06: BLACK & WHITE
MASTERCLASS & CHALLENGE
Add your challenge images below in the comments field
This challenge ends on the 25th. I’ll review your image from time to time and give you personal feedback. Best images and feedback have a chance of being featured in following month’s Photo BootCamp Magazine. Good luck!
Click here to learn how to add your image below, commenting & resizing.
Remember to be nice, be positive, be encouraging & have fun! 🙂
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After August 1th, I will be disconnected for up to three weeks. So I figured I better get this submitted now. This photo is the one that convinced me that I needed a better zoom. At 18mm on a APS-C (28mm equivalent) the image was too soft but I like the ambiance of the shot.
Taken during sunset but the sky had very little color to it. 1/50 sec @ f/10 ISO 3200 (about the max to go on this older camera). https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3f37b89955718cb363b85801e79136e2700ce9f06211e0f8a9d7df8905ba850b.jpg
I don’t see any problems with this image. Love the detail in the driftwood and like the composition. I think it’s a really good photo!
I believe backing off on contrast a bit will bring out even more detail.
Thank you, Rachel.
I re-processed the image. I don’t normally do much with contrast; I’m more into clarity and luminosity. Re-processing and the softness in the image is the same without contrast even being touched. I love the detail in the drift log but that is the best I can get it.
Love the textures in the foreground and your main point of interest – the surfer in the background. He/she stands out because of the lighter background and the reflection is an added bonus. Well done. The only thing I might do is darken the clouds a little (dodge and burn) to give this shot a little more “moody” feel. Brent
OK. I burned the clouds and even had to burn the water a little bit and dodge the drift log and the beach area. The utility I used before was Franzis Black White Projects software but that was back in 2016. Figured I would see what I could do in Capture One Pro and this is what I was able to do. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8b374b04867b2bd1b3af5fc68bd298cac63ce0ff8d981a6a0f76ef1a0e261197.jpg
Definitely more moody! I like it … but where’s Lewis and Clark? Lol
Great shot Point. I do think the darkening of the clouds helped although I did like the first one as well.
Great shot! Love the detail in the log, the surfer and the clouds balance it out nicely.
gee you got in early!
great image – I like the detail in the rock in the foreground
To me the horizon looks to be down on the right and I’d (probably) clone out whatever is in the trees in the middle distance
Fixed the horizon – I noticed it upon re-processing the image. The whatever is in the trees is part of the “rich people live here” homes in Seaside, Oregon. It is part of the coastline known as “the Cove”. If I wanted to have some fun I would clone out the homes and the surfers and replace with the Lewis and Clark expedition party walking on the coast. :p
I’m going to Seaside for the next two weeks and I so far have not found a similar drift log like the one in this image to try the image again.
Seaside! Been there done that. Had an outlaw that lived in along the Columbia.
Hi Point, very nice foreground texture.
Wonderful B&W image. Great textures and mood. The second version is much better to my opinion.
Nice work, Point, That foreground detail is awesome… I really prefer the edited version below. So good!
What a great B&W shot Point….i love the contrasts here between the wood in the front and the sea and beach at the back. It is a well balanced image….well done!
This is a really cool image! I love the texture of the wood! I also really like the 2nd image you posted. I love how you filled the image!
This is a lovely shot. I like how the lines bring me to the beach. Great composition. Great textures and I like how th e lights and shadows are just right. Great job
Point, good composition. I like the contrast between coast and water. Especially with the surfer and his reflection.
Point, I love the textures in the foreground. They draw my eyes into the scene.
Wow. Such a beautiful overall image with the foreground and background seemingly blending together. The surfer and their reflection is a nice touch also. Lovely contrast and soft lines in the driftwood.
Starting off with a ‘backyard photo’ of my favorite subject. My Jade plant in bloom. This was shot with an adapted Super-Takumar 50mm 1.4 lens, set at f/1.8, 1/1000 sec, ISO 100. Backlit with mid-morning sun.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/969796bb36545af81ee6584b042c99ac7b4e644f600556dd1cab52d08c33dd5d.jpg
Starting off with a ‘backyard photo’ of my favorite subject. My Jade
plant in bloom. This was shot with an adapted Super-Takumar 50mm 1.4 lens, set at f/1.8, 1/1000 sec, ISO 100. Back-lit with mid-morning sun. Reminds me of shots I took with B&W film, back in the day.
( the more I look at it, the more I think a flower is not that good a subject for B&W. )
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9de15235386edf3a82f3ce88dff9b69857ba7cd19abc8d82cf64bc682bed80c4.jpg
In my opinion flowers are ok, I think here your problem might be that they blend into the background a bit, ie they don’t stand out or ‘pop’
Thanks Nick. Maybe a bit more trial and error!?
When it comes to flowers and black and white I think my errors are at a much higher rate than successes. :p
I do like the Super Tak’s bokeh which might actually pull my focus away from the flowers. Maybe a closer shot of the flowers with less background?
Thanks Point. I’m thinking of that. It will have to be a macro shot, as these flowers are really small.
Trial and error and maybe simplicity?
Have a look at Max Dupain’s flower series – “Magnolia” taken in 1982 is one of my all time favourite images.
Well yes! Those are proper flowers.
Definitely need to work on mine.
Beautiful games of light here! Just love the bokeh
I think that your problem is not with the flower, but with the separation from the background – color has its advantages! 🙂 I would suggest to darken the bright area bellow the flower and brighten the sharper flowers to enhance separation.
Thanks Erez. I do need to play with it a bit more and see if I can do that. Still learning the editing software.
Looking at the image zoomed in…..you get a better separation between the flower and the background, but i agree…it does not pop….nice bokeh and blur.
Thanks Rerro. Yes you do get great bokeh from these old fast lenses, but you have to learn to optimize the images. Still learning.
I think this image has some potential. Maybe the flower would pop more if there was more direct light upon it. I think it’s a good start and it’s all about learning.
Thanks Amber. The look I was going for, made the flowers look almost transparent. The problem was that the background was really blown out.
Rachel, good composition. Nice picturee of the flower. It’s a pitty the flower disappear a bit in the background.
Thanks Christian. The next one ( I already have ) will not disappear in the background. 🙂
Rachel, Nice job. I think a simple change in perspective would have made the flower pop more. Can’t wait to see the next ones.
Thanks, Sarah.
One I prepared earlier …
Crowfoot Mountain
1/100s, f/4, iso 200, at 35mm [taken from a moving bus]
cropped a little from the bottom
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9535cb6eccdb5c27e61d762d43263311f7545bf63ee4fc4e2aec044f288a50e8.jpg
Thanks to the moving bus, the trees create a painterly effect – I like that.
Nice motion effect and dramatic image.
Maybe try to add some contrast to the sky. The sky here can be much more dramatic – only my personal preference of course
Do you live in the area?
I upped the contrast in the sky along with the clarity and left everything else the same – what do you think?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/697d2a1d1038ca25fedcb72bfb1c0b537e42990fcff231ffa3984b124551e854.jpg
Excellent, I prefer this version.
No, I don’t live in the area. By “here” I meant the image…
Cool image Nick! I almost wish it wasn’t as dark but I love the subject!
Nick, I am not sure which image I like better, the original B&W or the second one? I like the moodiness of the second image, but it might be a tad too dark? Purely personal preference again. Great shot from a moving vehicle.
Hi Nick – I like this one with the brighter bands of snow. Interesting that the sky has dense clouds, yet we can see bright section of the sun breaking through the clouds on the lower slopes. I think it is lovely. I haven’t been here & just looked it up on a map. I could visit as a day trip from Calgary. Might have to go…looks spectacular.
Wouldn’t they stop the bus? Neat shot.
The trouble with stopping the bus would have been that I’d want to stop it every 2 or 3 kms as the scenery was absolutely fantastic
What colour were the mountains Nick?
Almost monochromatic, whites (snow) and dark browns
sort of like this really :-]
…
sorry I can’t really recall my edits as I did them about a month ago on a fairly crappy laptop, obviously enhanced the contrast a bit an no doubt played with the colour sliders
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7159863a4e79a9a4dda77d12055e9576ebe5eb951a84fe165554eef6a61ce636.jpg
Great shot, makes the mountains look moody.
Nice one Nick! The camera movement gives this a painterly feel.
This is a great shot. Lots of lines, texture and contrast. Nice job.
Nick, an impressive picture of this moutain.
Hello again fellow bootcampers. Here’s my take on this month’s challenge. Until now I don’t know what looks better in B&W though.
This is a photo of Buddha’s head in banyan roots taken in Ayuthaya, Thailand. 1/60s, f5.6, iso 800 at 18mm with post vignette centered on Buddha’s head. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/99f5a3194f087477ad27384f2975bd46c8219ca9a7c11d3a06a49aa1eb770a69.jpg
I love these temple and tree root photos.
I would personally go for less vignette and more contrast
Thanks Nick. How about this one?
Most of the photos I have seen show the head in the center surrounded by the big roots but I wanted to include part of the brick wall.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cf7a594b24648012489d6c9a652a0db5962e5436d6445167c4655d33c1bf4fe3.jpg
I like the bricks
I think this is better as the Buddha isn’t highlighted, though I would still like more contrast (but that could just be the moody me!)
Thanks again Nick.
I think this version is the best. The SPOI is still clear, but the bricks are also part of the overall scene. This version also seems sharper and there is a story there. The tree roots almost look like hands. Or maybe Buddha is trapped?
Thank you Leila.
I like this version best. It keeps the head off-center and still shows some of the brick wall. This is a great shot! You might even darken the face just a little or try a very light burning line around the outline of the face to separate it just a bit more from the tree.
Thanks a lot Vicki.
I agree with Vicki I like this version the best! It really shows how things have evolved over time. I love the subject. Well done!
Hi Amber. Thanks.
Very interesting photo. I prefer this crop as well. Your point of interest is obvious and everything else just adds to the story. Nicely done.
Thanks Valerie.
Romy, I like this crop better, tells a bit more of the story. Although, maybe it could be darkened just a tad-or more contrast? it seems a bit light overall to me. Might just be me in a moody mood as well.
I think this is my favourite version. I like the inclusion of the wall at the side contrasting with the roots that cradle Buddha’s head.
Beautiful image REVillanueva. Love the mix of human made textures and objects vs. the roots texture
Thanks Erez.
That is a really cool image. I hadn’t seen anything like this before. Love the detail!
Thank you Rachel.
Love this image, the vertical of the tree roots with Buddha in there Vs the horizontal of the stones is just great!
Thanks a lot Kerrie.
Great shot…..loads of interesting textures and lines here. Thinking back to SPOI and what your main subject is…i presume it is the Buddha’s head….this is where you should be leading the viewer when you are processing your image. At the moment the head is blending in with the roots, try and bring some contrast in and more detail to the head. Also….i like the bricks….i would be making a second image just of the bricks and the roots growing on them!
Thanks Rerro. I have been thinking of making a square crop of this photo with the head in the upper center aligning the eyes in the upper third line and I am just curious as to the comments it would generate from fellow bootcampers. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/43fe926fb08f27753be81d4aa58eea5ed13e17f075ac1456d97b3852a5b15b27.jpg
Love this crop!! I bet you are having a lot of fun with this image.
Hi Gary. Yes, I am having fun with this image. Thanks a lot.
I love this crop and the contrast!!!!
Thank you Sheree.
Romy, that’s a remarkable picture. A lot of detail. Well done.
Thank you Christian.
rev, Prefer this one.
Great photo ,love the head in the roots.
Hi Claire. Thank you.
I really like this shot and like that it is in B&W. The brinks and roots almost look like they are a charcoal drawing. I am not sure why the Buddha head is so bright, I would have tried to keep it with some darker contrasts…but really do love this!
Thanks Sheree. Actually I was playing around with some of the presets I bought. Somehow it automatically put a vignette on Buddha’s head. Thank you again for your comments.
This is an awesome shot. I love how you positioned his head on the third line. The roots are perfect as far as shadow and lights go. Gives it a 3D look. Nice work.
Rev, great shot. well captured.
I took this today at my local park…I had been trying to get B&W shots of the lake, and while heading back to the car feeling a bit disgusted with myself, I took some hand held shots.
1/80 f5.6 ISO 320 at 85mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/68c8fcb4ca0c86efab57679ac8b26842bd87cd108dcc7bac3108881820480401.jpg
Nice sharp image Kerrie…try bringing some more contrast into your shot to bring out the mood.
Thanks for the feedback, Rerro. I’m guessing that you mean bring in more contrast in camera, rather than in post 🙂
Either or….best to try and get it right in camera…it just looks like your exposure is slightly over-exposed.BUT, easily fixed in post! 🙂
Hi Rerro, I went back through the edit history, and I had raised the exposure by 1/3 stop. I guess it seemed too dark for me at that time. I’ve also cropped a bit as suggested by Nick. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/292bbd3123a518316abf4942455c2dafe5869f195a5a7a74163e84519de433d0.jpg
It seems that there is not enough separation from the background….to make the cone pop. Perhaps use the ‘Radial filter’ in LR to isolate the cone, then work at trying to adjust using the tools there to add detail and clarity…..so that the viewer is drawn into the main subject
Kerrie, You made progress with this image. I like it a bit darker, but do agree with Rerro about not quite separation from the background. Not sure if another angle would have helped the shot or not.
Thanks Sarah, I’m not sure either. Another angle may work, though I don’t know if I’d find that tree again!
Nice composition Kerrie. I like the way the needles are so in focus, and I do like the crop.
Thanks Jeff 🙂
Kerrie. This is the one I like.
nice composition and subject matter
I’m wondering whether the cone can be enhanced to stand out a bit more, darkened perhaps?
And I’d consider cropping about a quarter off the bottom
Thanks Nick, I’ll play around with it.
Great image Kerrie. Suddenly it feels like Christmas season already even without the green and red color. Nice composition.
Thanks so much!
Nice one Kerrie!! Scrap those lake ones and count this as a keeper. 🙂 You really got a great angle so as not to lose the nest in the background.
Thank you Gary! That nest is actually a pine cone! 🙂
yikes!! I have never seen one like that before. Very cool!
Nice one, Kerrie. I like the diagonal lines and find that while my eye lands on the nest, the sharp needles also draw me to look more closely at other details.
Thank you Leila, it’s a pine cone 🙂
Great shot ,good composition & tack sharp ,great Bokeh
Thanks Peter 🙂
Great composition! One thing I love about B&W is how it really focuses on textures. Remember all you need is one good shot.
Thanks so much, Amber 🙂 I’m loving the challenge of B&W, it’s another first for me, shooting in B&W
Really like the different textures and overal tonal handling, Kerrie. Great job!
Thanks Sheree 🙂
I like the composition and all the different lines the pine needles make. I really like the object in the middle. Great work.
Thanks Barbara. It’s a pine cone 🙂
Your welcome. I thought so but never saw an open one quite like this one. Black and white sure does change the outcome of a picture.
Good details! I really like the simplicity of this photo. Nice job.
Thank you Valerie 🙂
Kerrie, great picture. Good composition. Perhaps a bit more contrast.
Thanks Christian, I seem to really struggle with contrast…with most of my images. I have posted another image below in Rerro’s comments. but to be honest, I really don’t know if it’s any better 🙂
My first B&W is a Fine Art image using the ‘Pinhole’ technique. The image was taken on the weekend when the weather rainy, overcast and moody!
The image is called ‘Matilda Bay’ This was a 2 sec exposure at ISO 100 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/315f272e715e8e7279ceb57c6ee385a832ba09941e6abf9fa60e57e7cbaefed1.jpg
Very brave to try out this technique with no lens – look forward to seeing how you progress. Brent
Thanks Brent….i just love this technique, and love the impressionistic feel!
Interesting….What are you using for a pinhole? The reason I ask is because I have seen pinhole photos that are “relatively” sharp.
BTW, I love the subject matter and composition.
Thanks Rachel….i use a pinhole precision manufactured cap that i purchased. Yes, you can get things pretty sharp, but in this case i was after the ‘dreamy, surreal’ feel!
I checked the availability of pinhole caps for my camera. $100+ for a cap with a hole in it!? What’s with that??
Try ebay…..can get them dirt cheap there!
Cool technique Rerro. I wonder if a longer exposure might have given even a more painterly effect. Mind you I have noooooo idea how you accomplished this as it is.
Thanks Gary, this is the little baby i use. I agree about the longer exposure. Although is was cloudy and rainy….it was very bright out, and i struggled to get above 1 or 2s. I think shooting in low light is the way to go to extend the exposure times. I have a couple of shots i took last weekend, where i was able to get 15-30s tat flatten out the water beautifully.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dce9f1e976f7bee9494f9010f58c307bcd5beff669bcf188a9424cf3f19b8976.jpg
Thanks for the info Rerro. 🙂
cool
and stop posting new ideas – I’ve enough ‘to do’ things as it is! lol
I can see what you were trying to do – nicely balanced and composed image though maybe a little too out of focus (?).
as a matter of interest – do the pinholes come in different sizes?
Thanks Nick….and yes, they come in different sizes. You can also make them your yourself if you have an old cap.
Once again Christine….amazing! I love how creative you are. I should be taking better notes of all your tips and tricks! Well done my friend!
Thanks so much Amber 🙂
REally love this and the emotions that come out in this! Reminds me of photos I had seen at my grandmothers taken back in the early 1900s. One of these days I will certainly look to experiment, but for now have to just get back to basics!!!
I have never done the pinhole effect. This is an amazing picture. At first I wasn’t sure about it, but after reading your description the scene made a lot more sense. You are very creative and I think this is an awesome shot. Great job!
Thanks so much Barbara…..i love the surreal effect this technique achieves!
Your welcome.
Wow…how cool is that? LOVE this Rerro!
Thanks Kerrie….glad you love it!
Christine, as if there is a dreamy scenery. Is it possible to have more focus with this technique? I don’t have experience with this matter.
Yes indeed….at longer exposures….15-30sec, i have had great success with better focus. On this particular day, it was very bright at the time of day i was there, so i struggled to get a well exposed image above 2s….thus the lack of perfect focus. I do like the effect though, and it is perfect for the mood i was trying to portray.
An amazing job Rerro! You give us all something to strive towards. Very creative.
Thanks Sara! I hope this inspires you all…:)
This brings back a lot of memories when I shot with a pinhole camera. I like the looks of this photo, with the boats.
Thanks Jeff…would love to see some of your pinhole images!
I really like the soft, dreamy quality of this image. It is like stepping back in time. I think B&W works so well with this technique. Another beautiful image, Christine. Pat yourself on the back.
Thanks Judy….its a great technique…a new love of mine 🙂
Rerro, a very dreamy shot. Well done.
Hi ,this is my first attempt at a challenge.
I took this photo while we were camping with some friends,we all got Great Danes, It was a very bright day bit hazy so decided to go for black and white which worked a lot better.
This was taken with a Nikon D5100, sigma 70-300 at 220mm, F,5, ISO-100 1/800 sec
think I resized it correctly, I only use Picasa for editing
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e2678cc822a2473bcf45d8bc1e982b29949cbbf955ae2f11665cc4b047eab3df.jpg
Nice sharp image and the dogs really stand out from the background
Though I’m not sure a photo of two dogs walking away is something I’d hang on the wall
Thank you, the original was a wider photo, these two were my friends dogs, I know he’s got this photo on his wall but it’s personal preference I suppose. I liked how they stood out but also blended into the background.
Nice contrast, sharp and I like the shallow DoF.
Thanks Rachel.
Love the sharpness and same as Rachel, the shallow DoF….. but like Nick, perhaps it would be more impactful with the pups coming toward you.
Thank you for your comment, I can see your point, if they were heading towards me but that day I had loads of photos of them all running at me, so this one was different so stood out, for me anyway.
Interesting DoF effect. The foreground and background are both blurred, which makes the dogs in the middle ground stand out. Looks good in b&w.
Thanks Sig, that’s what I saw and liked, that day I was playing around with dof, was also a very bright day so couldn’t see what I took until got back to campsite, this was one of my favourites from the day.
I absolutely love this picture. The foreground is crisp and clear. The dogs are lines in and of themselves as they walk to the back of the picture. Great job.
Thank you Barbara, I liked it as was different, it was a verry hot day so the sky was pretty blown out I’ve not got any filters yet.
I like this image Claire, the dogs are nice and sharp, and great DoF.I think that a little more space for the dog on the right to move in to would be a good thing.
Thank you and I agree with you ,the original image was wider on the right side but when I resized the image to upload it made it more square. I’m quite new to this photography malarkey so I probably did it a bit wrong. Will try again later see if it sets it any wider.
Lovely shot, and very nice in B&W….would be even better if the dogs were facing you….but either way it is a great shot!
Thank you Rerro, I will try and get one facing towards me next time.
Not always easy…i know! 🙂
Claire, nice picture with contrast of “black” and “white” dog. DoF worked very well here. Well done.
Thank you, I’ve been quite surprised with all the nice comments.
Thanks again.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/04c2692b010e5d9458da7d2ee810b276969c3f956cdd8e3c62bebfeb7da239f9.jpg
I’ve been playing with resizing my photo, this is what it should of looked like, more space to the right hand side.
Claire, I like this one better. Maybe crop a bit off the left hand side and a bit off the bottom. They are beautiful dogs. I look forward to seeing more of them. Faces are always nice, but not always easy to get.
Thanks sara, I resized it wrong first time, okay so maybe a little more cropping is needed.
Well done Claire. I like the photo on the bottom because it shows where the dogs were, and where they are going. Nice shot of the puppies too.
Thanks Jeff
Fantastic new challenge this month! Here is my first photo, taken on a walk around our beach this afternoon. I have no idea what kind of plant it is but the frothy white stuff and seed pods that looked almost like pine cones caught my eye. Very bright, mid-afternoon light. It fits my passion project of macro
flowers as well. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/86f5356d2673e4e951e7ad80390009e55fc630ea221fc972f7d9edde910891c4.jpg Nikon D5300; 1/320; f/9; 26mm; ISO 200.
Lovely photo, see what you mean about the pine cones.
very interesting texture between the pods and the silky tops
I’m finding the image a little busy and wonder if the second branch is cluttering up the image a little?
Love the textures and details.
Lovely contrasts in this.
You have great detail in this shot. I agree they do look like pine cones. Great composition and use of light and shadow to bring out the details and textures.
What an unusual looking plant! The textures are just great, Leila.
The B&W is really good at enhancing the contrast and textures…just perfect for this image!
Leila, nice picture with those sparkling white dots. It gives something magic.
Great job! The bright sun served well for the contrast in the photo. Well done.
I am so excited about this challenge! I love B&W!
I’ve chosen to start with an image that I actually took on my Samsung Galaxy S9. It was taken this winter driving back from a work retreat in Crested Butte, CO. I have a small obsession with taking pictures with an image in the side mirror. I’ll be heading back out to Crested Butte next week so I hope to capture some more beautiful images of the mountains.
4.3mm, F1.9, 1/1800sec, ISO 40
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/965885ff705dbfcd869b907fd3dec30e3199b01147789d2811655ac8fb648d0f.jpg
Gosh, can’t keep my eye focused on one thing. Mirror, mountains,etc. It looks like either scene would have been awesome, especially the main one. The contrast of snow and trees. Beautiful area. Lived in Denver, for a while, before it became a megalopolis.
Love it Amber….very effective use of B&W….and the use of the mirror is a great way to a wide range of your surroundings! Well done 🙂
Thank You Christine! Sometimes I just like to get a little artsy! 🙂
Cool
love photos of mountains, great mountains, real mountains not like the pimples we have over here!
pity the mirror was in the way … lol
interesting the difference between the two contrasting images
I’ll have to see if I can get the bus mirrors in my next outing!
lol….Thank You Nick! Colorado does have some spectacular mountains! Good luck on your next outing!
REally nice photo, Amber. I had a hard time figuring out where to look, though. Perhaps would have concentrated on one or the other…. but really nice shot!
Thank You Sheree! It was a spur of the moment capture. 🙂
Interesting idea to use the mirror! Also good contrast and DOF – well done!
Thank You Sig! I’ve done a few images like this. It does give a cool perspective.
Great photo Amber, different prospective using the mirror, it’s like two photos in one , like Rachel said I think either photo, through mirror and the scene in front and around would be great on they’re own, so bonus.
Thank You Claire! That’s what I liked about the composition (two photos in one)!
So creative and well shot Amber.
Thank You Kerrie!
Amber, nice picture with a double view of the environment. Each view has his own contribution. Well done.
Thank You Christian!
Even in black and white, it still looks cold. Nice use of lines on the mountain.
Thank You Jeff! It was pretty cold that trip!
Great job Amber! Wonderful use of the side mirror and love the B&W! Well done.
Thank You Sara! I just had to capture all the beauty that was around me!
I love this Amber.
Thank you Keri!
Amber. very interesting view.I like it. Well done.
Thank You Denis! I thought it was interesting too, so I had to capture it. 🙂
Amber, very interesting image. Nice range of tones and textures. You might think about just doing a crop with the mirror image (thinking of a “leaving” kind of story). Reminds me of many fun days skiing at Crested Butte when I was going to school.
Thank you Bill! I just might try that crop! Crested Butte is a beautiful place!
I love B&W!—and the entire process that goes into it. For this photo, I have cheated a little bit as today, being the first day, I used a photo I took last week with my iPhone. I am going to get out my main camera and shoot in B&W, but was excited to post something.
This photo was taken in Jamaica of a Silk Cotton tree… I loved the roots and textures and converted it to B&W in Lr.
iPhone 8 ISO 32 3.99mm f1.8 1/30sec
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2c8c7b522ddd71ebfe8d691259821790a6704a0184d5728f708bc9e94685c349.jpg
That’s really cool – excellent in b&w!
…and textures are wonderful!
Thanks!
Cool photo, loving the roots,
textures are great too.
Love the crisp lines and texture in this image. I’d try and reduce the bright patch in top right a little 🙂
I totally agree with the bright patch….very distracting! I am trying to get back into LIghtroom (have no idea right now how it works)—and have forgotten how to use Photoshop! Soon come!
what great detail in this B&W image! I love the curves and the leading lines….the roots kind of pull you in, in an eerie kind of way! Very good Sheree
Thanks! I agree, it is a bit eerie and was the feeling I was looking for! 🙂
Cool
buttressing tree roots are one of nature’s brilliant accomplishments
great photo with good composition
Many thanks, Nick. This is a crop from the original, which was the whole tree. Even though I took a lot with just the roots, this was the only one that had strong leading lines….
I love this shot Sheree. Nice capture.
Many thanks!
Very similar to, or maybe the same as our Morton Bay Fig tree. Love the detail. Great photo.
Thanks Rachel! I was surprised that this much detail came out from my phone!
Sheree, indeed I love those curls of the roots and the textures too. Very expressive lines.
Sheree well done. Love the lines and texture. I would think about cropping out the right hand side just where it is bright, unless you can burn that area in photoshop to Lightroom. Personal preference though. nice job.
I have cropped it in a bit more…. I agree the bright on the top right is so distracting, but was afraid to crop more….not so sure what I was afraid of!!! Here is another version!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e2c182d3f6d103f40ddacc5428163b69857bbb91cd0ba05848fbfb8fac737e39.jpg
I have given this one a bit more contrast as I found after cropping again it looked a bit flat. Here is the final one! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e80999ba5262336e94bf5431a8848f243b293403fe53d97df67ddcbe21b1da4b.jpg
Like this one too!
I like this one better. Thank you. The wonderful thing about digital is you can alter them constantly and play with different themes etc.
Thanks Sara!!! me too!
more sinuous
betterer in my view
Sheree, I like this version
Sheree, Love the lines in this capture. Well done.
Hi everyone. I got to take photos of the old Hospital at Ellis Island last Sunday. Of course I also took pictures of the statue of liberty from the hospital as well. This photo was taken in color and I used Silver Efex pro to turn it into a high key black and white photo with a slight vignette around the edges. I wanted something different then all the other photos out there. I was using a tripod and my D750 with my 24-120mm lens. I shot it at f/16 1/400 of a sec, ISO 360 at 105mm. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d2590ea21677c397dc71d82d119f63e8fb40a0b8113402a6a4fb48eb2fb86603.jpg
I love your conversion! The details in the clouds have come out beautifully and you certainly have a different view! Great job, Barbara!
I really like this, for me the clouds make the photo. And nice to see it from a different angle, nice one.
Thanks
Nice image, Barbara…I’ve never seen it from that angle. Well done.
Thanks.
Barbara….a brilliant shot! The composition is good and the image is well balanced. You have all the drama in the sky, and its almost as if the ‘Lady of Liberty’ is reaching up towards that drama! I do think the dark edges of the vignette are slightly distracting….and being the heroine of your image, i think you should try and lighten the statue, so that the viewer is drawn into the statue. but that is just my opinion, it a a great B&W
Thanks. I will see what I can do.
Great composition Barbara. Well done.
Thanks
Love it. Almost, makes me homesick!
Thanks.
Barbara, wow fabulous shot. The Statue of Liberty is an icon that has been photographed a billion times but you have done a great job here. The photo is moody and the sky with various shades and contrast really adds to the overall effect. Great job.
Thank you David.
Barbara, great picture. Gives a lot of peace. Personally I think the vignette is too much. For me the picture doesn’t need it. Well done.
Thank you. Plan on redoing the photo.
Great photo, very eye catching, great sky
I initially thought the shore line might need straightening but then the flag pole would all be leaning, hah!
i agree that this photo doesn’t need the vignetting
Thanks
Love the shot! Another place I need to visit. I agree that the vignette is a bit distracting. I would maybe try to enhance the clouds while making Lady Liberty stand out a bit more. A matter of personal preference, as always.
Thank you. I plan on making some of the sug
gested edits and reposting it.
I made some adjustments to brighten the statue of liberty and to darken the skies. I also took the vignette off. Please let me know what you think now. Thanks https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ca7387b02fc281fa0a7c138fe6c8dfeb64d0d23512eb549205c376a15e944161.jpg
Barbara. Iconic shot well taken.
Thank you.
Barbara, this is a super shot. Great choice going for the high-key look, and it almost seems retro — print it in a sepia tone and it would look like a historical image. Looks like you tried to lighten up Lady Liberty in post — there is a slight halo around the bottom half. I don’t know if you saw it, but the pattern of clouds to the right of the statue looks like an eye — maybe you could have some fun trying to emphasize that to create a “someone above is watching” kind of feel.
Thank you that is a great idea. No i didn’t see the halo but recently learned how to avoid this by using my ON1 RAW program.
Thank you
I took this photo in a hallway at the Palace of Versailles. It was originally shot in colour, but I like it in b&w – seems to bring the scene back in time. Camera and settings: Sony Alpha 7 ii with 24 – 240 mm lens at 40 mm, f8, 1/60 and ISO 800. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a56ff750d93ee1cf3084140c0ce0e58d7d5be2a4b606e186d7a46dbd2adf794b.jpg
Great photo, like the contrast, also like that it not straight down the middle, so can see the statues better.
LOVE this B&W. tack sharp, nice lighting, and I love the perspective you’ve captured.
Fabulous Sig! Love the fact that i am being drawn down the corridor by the leading lines…i also love the checkered floor, that as i am being led i am pulled to the side following the floor to the beautiful artwork along the way.
Brilliant
I like the way my eye is drawn into the photo
Great shot, Sig. Nice leading lines.
Love the shot Sig, It has a wonderful feel in b&w, great leading lines and overall composition. Well done.
Just an absolutely classic photo, Sig. Great shot.
Sig, great picture. Good composition. Leading lines from beginning to the end. Well done.
Really nice photo Sig. This would look cool printed and put in a frame to hang in your office or den.
Very well done Sig! Wow. The lines and the statues, the light fixtures, the texture in the columns. Beautiful!
Thanks everyone for all the encouraging comments!
Love the image. Great composition and the repetitions (tiles, statues arches and etc.) are great in B&W. Great work
This is gorgeous Sig. Well done.
Lovely combination of patterns and leading lines. Very nice image, Sig. I think there is some scope here to increase the highlights &/or light sections of this image just a bit to increase the contrast and make those statues and floor pop.
Hi Judy,
Thanks very much for your comments. I greatly appreciate getting suggestions for improvements. The picture was processed in Lightroom and at the time, the contrast, light and shadows were adjusted to my liking, although I did not do a huge amount of tweaking. I have used LR for 2-3 years, so I’m not super experienced.) The contrast was set to +85. I have now tried increasing that to +100, but it is difficult to see much difference. The point curve had been set to ‘medium’. I have tried changing that to ‘strong’. That adds a tiny bit more contrast, but it also has the effect of bringing some spots on the image into pure black, which I normally try to avoid (rightly or wrongly). I had deliberately turned the highlights way back to -100. I have tried bringing that back a bit (-60). That brings in a bit more light, but the difference is fairly subtle. However, it has the effect of bringing some spots (especially the light bulbs in the chandeliers) into pure white. You might say that doesn’t matter and perhaps not. However, avoiding blown out spots is something I try to avoid when possible. Bringing the highlights back to 0, adds noticeably more light, but that in my view is too bright, especially statues 4, 5 and 6. May be somewhere in between might be optimum. Conclusion: Yes, the image can be brightened and the contrast increased slightly. However, does that make the floor and statues pop more? I’m not sure, so in the end perhaps this is primarily a matter of preference?
Again, I really appreciated your suggestions as it made me take a closer look and gave me an opportunity to think more about the settings I had selected. What I find is that in photography communities, such as Bootcamp, participants can sometimes be too afraid to make suggestions for improvement.
I’m always a bit tentative making suggestions – and that is all they are – because we all have our artistic vision and what matters in the end is that you, as the artist, are happy with your own work. Personal preferences have a huge impact when deciding what feels right vs overdone. For example, I’m o.k. with some blown out areas or completely black spots, as long as it fits with the mood of the image. I also appreciate the suggestions provided by fellow members. Sometimes, they are completely out of sync with my vision, but that’s o.k. Often, they prompt me to look at the image in a different way and that can help with how I then look at subsequent images. Processing a photo is very much a balancing act; correcting one aspect may create problems in another as per your comments above. While I do 95% of my processing using Lightroom, I’ve pushed myself to learn some basic skills in Photoshop since joining this group …. always daunting to open that program…. but I’m learning to appreciate the power to make more targeted adjustments to my images.
Hi Judy, Thanks for your reply. Yes, I agree with what you are saying. It is also important to consider suggestions provided with an open mind. In addition, if the comments are only complementary, then you may not learn much and the whole point of posting your photos is of course to learn. On that note I have now posted a version of the image that has been tweaked to address what I think you were suggesting. I have changed the highlights back to 0, the contrast to +100 and the point curve to ‘strong contrast’. I don’t think the resulting (small) totally black and blown out spots are objectionable – so I learned something. Please let me know what you think of the new version. Thanks! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ad6d3ba518f3e19e716daa8e47e0d940fdbddb1a76c10b88ebad86a0573a840c.jpg
I do like this version better because i think that little extra contrast creates more depth and draws my eye deeper down that beautiful hallway. To my eye, it still looks very natural. Nice editing. What do you think? And it is 100% ok to say you like the original edit the best. I’m sure that if 30 people edited the same image, no two woul be exactly alike.
Sorry for the late reply. I had a problem with Disqus. Anyway, I still like the first version better. As stated before, I find that statues #4, 5 and 6 are too washed out. The details, such as shadows, are starting to be affected, so they don’t look natural. I suppose I am especially sensitive to this, as I have seen too many overly bright and blown out spots in old photographs and amateur 8 mm movie film. (I transfer 8 mm film to video with professional equipment.) As a results, I would rather tone down the highlights a bit too much than a bit too little. However, as we have agreed before, these types of adjustments in post processing are always subjective.
When I look at both images side by side I do prefer this latest one – it has a little more pop in the lighter part of the arches. Well done Sig, love the way this image takes me on a journey down the hallway settling on some of those statues. Shapes, lines, textures and details all add to the feeling of this shot. Love that it’s B/W. Excellent capture. Brent
Brent, Thanks for your kind comments – very much appreciated!
Sig, Here again it is the simplicity that makes this shot. Great lines and lighting. Well done.
While waiting for the ‘boss’ to do her shopping in a large shopping centre, I was intrigued by
these hanging pendants. ISO200, fl35mm, f4.00. 1/150sec.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1e56ac148bfb25359dd01124792c90dbb48fac17d189935e8e1eafed02980b06.jpg
Wow! Crystal clear…I love that we can see into the shop. So many lines and shapes. Well done John.
Thanks Kerrie
Very interesting shot John…and very effective as B&W!
Thanks Rerro
very intriguing photo
did you play with the contrast or anything else in post processing?
if you took a few images exactly the same (tripod and all that) over a period of time you could stack them and eliminate the people!
Thanks Nick, too many people for all that,
thought so – you may wish to clone that chap in the dark jumper, bottom left out. my eye keeps going to him
John, I like those lines and lighting points. It’s a pitty the brand name is remarkably present. Perhaps another point of view. I don’t think your “boss” will return in 5 minutes.
Thanks Christian, this was the only point of view available, I think the brand
name is part of the story.
Well done John. I like the hanging pendants, and I’m a huge Adidas fan so that makes it even better for me. Nice capture of the wires or strings holding the pendants up as well.
Thanks Jeff
John very interesting photo! I am drawn to the bulbs as well as he adidas sign. I find the railing a bit distracting where it is. Maybe a slight alteration in perspective to have the railing just beneath the top bulbs instead of cutting them in half? I do like the B&W conversion, just the right balance of light and dark.
Thanks Sara,
Hi guy’s, as this months challenge is black and white and if you are out and about with only your phone with you I can definitely recommend the “Provoke app”. It takes great B&W photos and you have filters etc to enhance your shots.
Nice, I’ll have to try it. Thanks @disqus_8VjGhpbQJo:disqus
Cheers buddy.
Thanks David. I will have to give that a shot. I had never heard of that one before!
It’s cheap as chips and very intuitive to use, I am sure you will enjoy it.
when Brent said this month’s challenge was B&W photography I sort of cringed. I have never done any B&W work and have never been interested in B&W work. However, after watching Brent’s master class video I got excited and inspired to do this challenge. I parked our vintage 1952 Ford 8N tractor in our hay field and composed the following shots which were ISO 100, 70mm, F8, 1/125 sec. I thought it would reinforce Brent’s lesson by posting the color version and the B&W. I have started asking my wife for her opinion on which photos that she likes. Not sure this was a good idea on my part, but she is all too willing to offer her opinion. As a result I am submitting two B&W versions of the tractor, the one I like & the one she likes. Let me know which image you all like better. I am not going to tell you yet which one she picked. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/edd2ad67dd8f8882a2ac4e49b8ff86d0284332fcbd6d5f14289cedc7ed312b4b.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/15a89695e3f01f77ef07aff720bed62e0fcb0d18f4e475ca84f1a22b94530710.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3755e268fce35095c204337f42e879ee422efdc77899728708ea8a5b5faa594d.jpg
Great idea with the tractor, vintage and black and white, I like it, and I prefer the first black and white image so same as the colour image. It just works better for me.
Thanks Claire
great images and it’s good that you are enthused and great tractor
You might want to blur the background to bring out the tractor a bit more. And if you can add a bit of detail into the sky – those clouds look interesting
I like whichever image your wife likes … lol
seriously, I prefer image 2 but find the tree just to the right distracting, maybe if you took a step or two to the right it would separate it from the tractor
Image 1 I find the background too distracting
Thanks for the comments Nick
Hey Jim! I like all the images….but prefer the 3rd one… I would process it in B&W a bit more to bring out more tones and blur the background a bit. A bit more contrast I think. I love the old tractor and great choice for a challenge!
Thanks Sheree
Jim I like the first B&W image as it is the same as the color, also I am a bit distracted by the tree to the right on the second image. I would see if you can enhance the clouds a bit as they would add drama to the photo. Nice job!
Thanks fro the comments Sara. I will see what I can do with your suggestions.
Jim, I like the first B&W image the best. There’s more space around the tractor. I would play with the color sliders and brighten up the greens. that will give you more contrast between the tractor and the trees with out making the tractor darker. Also, decrease overall contrast to bring out more detail. At least that’s what worked for me. Oh, maybe a bit of a crop off the right side. :o)
Rachel, thanks for the comments. I will try your suggestions as several others have also suggested I play with the red & green sliders to get more contrast.
Great shots, The tractor lends itself to B&W good choice
Thanks Andrew
Great photos! Tractors tend to be great subjects for black and white photos. Great way to get started. Your composition is good and the photo has plenty of light and contrast to make it pop from the picture. Great job on your first black and white photo for the class.
Thanks Barbara
Great shot Jim. The first B&W shot is the best in my opinion. It is more balanced and for evokes a sense of aloneness or abandonment. I also think that blurring the background would isolate the tractor even more adding to the abandonment feeling.
Thanks for the comments Andrew. I know I can blur the background with the adjustment brush in Lightroom but I have never tried it. I will definitely give it a try.
Awesome shot Jim – the tractor is a great subject. I love them both, but I prefer the first version – I think that it is a better image regardless color or B&W. The angle is more interesting IMO.
I don’t know how you converted to B&W, but if you use Lightroom or Photoshop, it worth playing more with the red and green sliders to obtain more contrast
Thanks Erez. I shot the image in B &W mode on my camera. Lightroom gave me both the color & B&W versions. I only did post processing on the B&W version. I’ll try to optimize the color image and then convert. I am still learning Lightroom and honestly had not thought about doing it this way.
In converting to B&W in Lightroom, you have a scroller for many colors that enable you to determine how dark or bright the given color will be in the B&W. It gives you lot of control in the outcome and especially capable to produce a local contrast that can’t be obtained otherwise.
Jim, the third shot for me.
After receiving everyone’s comments I went back and implemented them as best I could. I did all of this post work on the color image and then converted it to B & W. Hopefully it has resulted in a better image. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e706e9eb1df673f63f0c72f5a4d4e5edb5a1530256a3a78d70c4203eb063ae45.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bcdb1946c759336ab5801a84a1b6899471efb245c1baeac1de17dd3c1a6db973.jpg
Jim, these are both nice shots and good adjustments. One tweak that you might want to make is to use a red filter preset in post-processing to get the “black sky” effect, which would really make the tractor pop against the sky.
Great capture Jim – love your low angle you shot this at and that old tractor in amongst the flowers really lends itself to b/w for sure. I prefer this profile view. Well done. Brent
Zigzag Peak. I was struck by the contrast of the light-colored grass growing in a zigzag pattern in the rock. That, plus the long afternoon shadows and texture of the rock made this a good candidate for B&W for me. f/11 with +0.7 exposure compensation, 1/100 sec, 42mm focal length, ISO 100, Nikon D3400 with kit lens.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/be2f7ae6205d201bf1e2f20c7b9841e982026c020ed9af9c9f57637044628d3a.jpg
See what your mean about the grass zig zag, great shot, it suits the black and white .
Super capture Bill. I love all the lines which form nice shadows and lead your eye up to the top of the hill. There is just enough cloud in the sky to add interest and overall great work. Well done Sir.
Nice and great composition
as Eraz said to me re my mountain photo: “Maybe
try to add some contrast to the sky. The sky here can be much more dramatic –
only my personal preference of course” this comment would seem to apply here as well.
I’d also look to removing the post/pole at the bottom right – in my view it’s distracting
Hi Nick,
Thanks for your comments. Take a look at this one and please tell me what you think. I punched up the contrast plus added a grad filter on the sky to deepen the black and bring out more of the clouds.
I also took out the yucca plant in the lower right corner.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e131ea9e48672e8bf4f531f8350fa75a785d4bc3160238636f507f0378ebb47a.jpg
Yep this works for me
Good shot Bill. Nice contrast and love the different textures.
nice shot…. would agree with Nick on adding more contrast so it is a bit more dramatic. Great choice for B&W
Thanks for your comment. Please take a look at my revision in my response to Nick above.
Bill.
Lovely shot! It seems a bit bright, maybe add more contrast, i seem to be in a moody mood.
Bill, I like the pattern on the rocks. Also the contrast of them with the sky. But I don’t see the grass. As it is B&W, it is sometimes hard to identify the nature of the shade of grey. Beside this I find it a good picture.
Christian, the grass here was a very dry and so was a light shade of brown — almost white against the darker rock.
Nice shot. Great lines and texture. The sky helps the rock to stand out and the shadows give it some perspective. Not sure if you could lighten some of the deep shadows a bit or not. Overall great photo!
Beautiful Bill, great lines and the harsh light and deep shadows actually add to the scene.
I was out walking with my dog this evening and noticed the fabulous contrast between the silvery bark of the tree and a deep blue sky. I only had my iPhone X with me and used the “Provoke” app to take the picture. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c07eec36531ddb8094d899e3ebcd673a49b71c08bfab42fd616f023177c612ee.jpg
very nice composition, I like the play of light and the dark cloud looming over. great shot
John, thank you for your positive comments.
Great photo David. Even tho its back and white, I do like the contrasting blacks and the light that is shining on the tree. Well done.
Thanks a lot Jeff.
Neat shot. Could you have gotten in tighter on the center trees?
Rachel, please see my reply to Sara. You are right of course.
Love the textures on the trees! They really come out.
Thanks Sheree.
I like it, but my personal opinion I would crop the right and left sides to just show the leafless trees.
Sara you are absolutely correct. Inadvertently I uploaded the wrong photo. I wanted to upload this one. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1d717b0e9367c594f0b616a2892fabc4a143b8987675bd4a035f2fbcaa932626.jpg
Wow, now that is cool. Really like this one.
Thank you Rachel
David, this picture just has it. Very good. Big difference with the previous one. Well done.
Thanks Christian.
Love this One! Well done!
Cheers Sara.
Great photo, the close up crop is definitely better, nice one.
Thank you Claire
yep I think I prefer this one.
I especially like the starkness of the sunlit limbs against the sky
This crop is great – interesting and dramatic
Thanks so much Erez.
This is good David. Much better cropped.
Thank you Keri.
Thank you Keri.
Much better David. I love the contrast. Great shot.
Thanks so much Romy.
David, I agree with Sara & Rachel about the crop. I like very much the contrast between the branches and the sky. Well done.
Thanks Christian.
I do like the cropped version a lot better. The two trees are the focal point. These trees have great texture and you show that with this photo. Nice job.
Thank you Barbara
I was walking around my local garden center and saw these garden posts which I thought would look good in black and white. They had really good looking contrast with the sun lighting up the points and the shadows deeper into the posts. Took the shot on my IPhone X and used the “Provoke” app.https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/33d05f28ed2762d3658ec90f380367f2c4a7fd7bd421ffd19af997b2bcd049d6.jpg
Well done on both photos.
Thanks Jeff.
Really like this one, David!! Almost looks like a group of pencils (with no lead!)…. lots of textures. Well spotted!
Thanks so much Sheree.
Very cool and creative! Well done.
Thanks a lot Sara.
David, creative view of something rather banal. In this way it becomes an interesting picture.Well done.
Thanks Christian.
Great shots David, as they say the best camera is the one you have with you at the time.
Thanks Andrew
I like this perspective. Nice shot and composition. Multiple leading lines that gives the picture depth. Texture is great and the shadows help to make this more of a 3D photo. Nice work.
Thanks Barbara
Where’s Buffy?
interesting perspective
just enough detail to see the timber grain, great photo though I’m finding the highlight at the top right a bit distracting
David, great composition. Love the darks Vs lights, but I feel that the highlights/whites could come down a bit at the tips of the posts. Just my thoughts..
Great choice of subject for B&W and very well done
Thank you Erez.
I like that you have filled the frame with the subject/s….The spot at the top left has blown out, which is distracting….perhaps a slight crop at the top…..Maybe tone down the highlights and open up the shadows. Also, try and bring a little clarity and detail into the wood. Nice shot David!
Rerro, thanks for the feedback. Makes sense.
David, Interesting shot. I would crop the top line that is kind shown out.
David, great work with the symmetry and repetition in your composition. Excellent contrast between the dark spaces and the lighter posts. Nicely done.
Here is my first attempt at shooting and editing in black and white. I tried to keep the entire log in the photo as I find it very interesting. I tried different crops and angles for the photo but finally landed on this one. Settings: Monochrome, 1/500sec, F5.6, ISO 100, 70mm. Cropped and Lightroom preset applied to enhance the b&w tones. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a4e812cf9cf2cfe17f9cde6a6164900a81377306561a795b106a2f6be9bbcd0e.jpg
Valerie: One of my favorite things! I have always been drawn to “stumps/roots”. There is so much tenure in this, but it seems like it blends into the background too much. Not enough contrast between the log and the pine trees. I think a shallower depth of field would have been better. I am not sure how to fix in Lightroom as I do not use that program.
Sara, thanks for the comments. I agree it blends with the trees. I am not sure how to adjust for it either. I took several close up photos of the different sections of the log as there are a lot of different textures and lines. Never quite sure about tight crops and need to not worry so much about it.
Valerie, I agree with Sara. In Lightroom you could use local adjustment for the trunk and one for the background. This tool is located in the Development section on the extreme right side. But this is a interesting topic to photograph. Well done.
Thanks Christian, I tried using the adjustment brush as well as taking down the contrast. I posted a new edit of the photo. Thanks for the information and feedback.
Great subject matter. The textures and tones in that old trunk are fantastic
I agree with the comment on the background – is there a blur brush tool in lightroom?
your other option is to open up the lens a little to give less depth of field
I Nick, I tried using an adjustment brush in Lightroom and have reposted the new edit. I am still learning the whole editing process and am a little hesitant when it comes to adjusting. Thanks for your comments!
now it’s your central point of interest – great
Thanks!
Valerie, super shot with an interesting subject. I think that the log is getting lost into the background. Using a shallow depth of field would help the log stand out more. Great job with the photo.
Thanks David, I posted an updated edit to the photo. I love looking for interesting trees and wood and will try a more shallow depth of field on my next excursion.
Great shot. I like how you use the tree as the leading line. Great texture and contrast. I do agree a little bit that the log gets lost among the background.
Thanks Barbara, I have posted an updated edit trying to adjust for the background. I appreciate the feedback.
Really like the textures of that old tree trunk. I’m thinking that we are struggling with the B&W editing. I’ve found that if I start out by converting the image to B&W I can control the outcome a bit better. I can bring my “green” slider up to brighten the “green” background. “Red” and “yellow” sliders next and maybe”magenta” to bring out my PoI. The other colors depending on if there’s sky etc. Then I go to “contrast” and I’m finding, a lot of the time, that less is better. Also, it wont effect my PoI as much. Any suggestions and /or pointers on the best way of going about it, would be greatly appreciated. :o)
Thanks Rachel for your feedback. I am posting an updated edit to the photo. I tried using the adjustment brush,darkened the upper background and tried to diminish the clarity. I also took the contrast down. See what you think. Thanks. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/34f439b7e52e3b662f98e733344c4a77b1b2019b05714d044ea6cc229610d281.jpg
Holy cow, that tree trunk is definitely not getting lost in the background now. It really pops! Great job.
Thanks Rachel!
Valerie, with your adjustments you made a great picture. Well done.
Thanks Christian.
Great re-editing, Valerie. The tree trunk just pops out from the background now.
Thank you Peter.
This is better Valerie. Nicely done.
Thanks Romy
Valerie. I prefer this version.
Nice job Valerie on both photos, I think I actually like the top photo a bit more just because of the background is more clear, but that’s just me. Nice use of shadows too. Well done.
Thank you Jeff.
You’ve done a great job in your 2nd edit Valerie, your subject really pops now. Well done.
Thanks Kerrie.
Both versions are beautiful, but I prefer the second – more dramatic and mysterious. Love it
Thanks Erez.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e68cabf6c97dce5cb345ca0096f9b5d8a0d4fd6696b63eccc808e37084dfbbe1.jpg
Here is my first submission for the B&W challenge. I think this is such great challenge as it feeds off what we have already learned. So after a hard week, I went out to see what caught my eye. There was this knot in a tree in our yard. I took a couple from different angles, and decided I liked this one the best. Tell me what you see! Nikon D60 ISO 800, 62 mm f/5.3 1/125.
Sara I like this. Very good detail and nice separation from the tree in the back. It looks like an animals face to me.
Valerie thank you. I was thinking along the lines of a gargoyle type creature, my husband thought devil. It is amazing how different people interpret the same thing.
Sara, good picture with the subject sharp and the background blurred. Very curious knot. Well done.
Thank you Christian.
Hah, now when I post my photo of bark everyone will think I copied you! I love the tones and textures in bark and have been taking bark photos for years
Great image, brilliant textures and well done on blurring the background. What brand of gargoyle? woops tree?
Sincerest form of flattery-copying someone right? 😉 Thank you Nick. I believe this is a boxelder tree, no stately oaks in my yard unfortunately.
I like this shot. Looks like a face. Love the textures and lines and the composition is great. Awesome job!
Barbara thank you. I am glad one of the angles was what I envisioned.
Gosh, it does look like a gargoyle. Love the detailed textures.
Rachel thanks. That is kinda what I thought too.
I love this image. The B/W and shallow depth of field gives the impression of a creature emerging from within tree.
Barry-thanks for your kind words. I am not sure I will look at this tree the same way again.
Sara, I like this a lot, and I agree with Barry that it does look like a face or something coming out of the tree. That’s the first thing I notices even before seeing the other comments. Good job.
Thank you Jeff.
It reminds me of a Chinese dragon. Perhaps one that being born/erupted out of a volcanic landscape.
Just shows that a simple part of our everyday world, can take on magical properties when shown in the, literal, right light.
Thank you so much!
Wow Sarah, were you looking for that face?
I am always looking for different things in trees. Luckily, in this angle, I found something. Thank you.
I see a face Sara – maybe the old Green Man of English mytholgy, and sometimes of carvings in old churches. Lovely shot.
Thanks Hilary.
Wonderful textures and DOF – love this image.
I’m with Hilary, I see an old man’s face
Thank you Erez. I seem to be able to find faces in trees and rocks.
Great job, Sara, with finding the face and making it stand out with the contrast.
Thank you Peter.
That is pretty cool Sara.
Keri, thank you.
Beautiful shot Sara. I imagine the shape of a face with mouth wide open. Great shot.
Romy-Thank you.
Great textured shot Sara…..and nice in B&W
Rerro thank you. I don’t think it would have the same impact or people would see the same things if it were in color.
Agreed!
Sara, great texture shown in this shot.
Denis thank you. I thought it was a boxelder tree, but turns out it is an elm.
Trinity College Library Dublin
1/100 sec f5 ISO 6400 14mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/06fbfb9d8c4f3981c7e8883077fcad4a068bb4aae58343ed65c60c535eb510ba.jpg
Andrew, nice to see those busts aligned leading our view to the end. I love the sight of the first bust looking at the others (to see if they are aligned?). Great contrast with the background. Well done.
Nice shot. Like how you used the busts to create a leading line to draw the viewer in..
Wow Andrew, this is really good! Love that you were conservative with the contrast. The image has a soft finish to it. Great composition.
Very cool Andrew. I really like the way the light hits the busts. Well done.
great shot in B/W. Has texture, lines and mood. Has a story or plot to tell!
Great shot Andrew. I love how the light has caught the busts and how the guy on the right is looking down the line. Very atmospheric. Good job.
Great photo
I first thought it was one of those mirror shots withe the reflection going off into the distance.
great perspective and composition
seems like the 1st bust has thought ‘what’s he taking a photo of?’ and had a look
Andrew, I like this a lot. Very cool photo. It reminds me of some great music room from a famous composer, but I do get that it is a library. Well done.
The paleness of the busts against the darkness of the background leads
the eye in the same direction as the front figure is looking, leaving you intrigued about what is going through his marble “mind”. (Perhaps he’s wondering what he’d missed that had so captivated his associates. Or he’s got his eye on one of the ladies further down?)
Awesome, Andrew…Love that diminishing line, and the light cast on those busts. I also like the clarity of those bookshelves.
Great photo Andrew, very different, and a lovely leading line going into the distance with the first figure looking down the line.
Very nice b&w photo, Andrew, the first figure leads my eyes into the picture.
Great shot – the B&W certainly adds here. Very good eye leading.
B&W really makes this photo. I’ve been to TC Library and saw the great harp, as well as these busts. Perfect contrast and composition.
Very nice Andrew.
Fabulous Andrew…..love the DoF and that the front statue is looking down the line!
Very nice, cool image, well done
what a great capture ,the bust in the foreground looking where your shooting almost looks staged but it also makes the shot work ,maybe a smidge lighter to see the books above the bust would work also.
I really like the composition and simplicity of this shot. Very well done, Andrew.
Andrew, simple shot well taken and produced. I like it.
Fantastic composition and contrast! Sweet!
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again… I love repetition! Even though they aren’t the same bust the line of busts seems as if it goes on forever! I especially like the front bust as it looks like he is making sure everyone else is in line. I think the composition is well done!
Thank you David, I sure saw something with a horn sticking out of its head.
Centuries in the making. Old Olive tree in Montgo Valls area of Javea, Spain. I really concentrated on getting the texture of the bark to stand out. Photo taken on my Iphone.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ce29722cbb9156e8607c8511987cb347b94f9113bc256c9f52bb15ecf92650ae.jpg
I bet this tree has some stories to tell. Nice use of shadows, and light, especially with an Iphone.
great photo – love photos of bark
and I can just imaging how the actual timber would look, superb
Shows up the textures in the bark very well. Good shot, especially with a phone.
Thank you Hilary
Thank you Hilary.
I have been looking at this, finding lots of eyes and faces.
Nice details. I wish my phone captured details with such clarity. Good job.
Thanks Valerie.
Well done. Love the details. The longer you look the more you find.
Thanks Sara.
Thank you Sara.
David, this is one of my favourite things to photograph. I love different textures—will have to put up some on the Passion challenge! Great B&W and tones….
Sheree, thank you so much.
Thank you Sheree.
I love the texture here David. Nice shot.
Thank you Romy.
Love the feel of the old wood seen in the texture here…..nice shot David!
Thanks for the feedback Rerro.
Crisp and sharp with great texture. This is a great shot of old wood. Nice work!
Thanks Barbara.
Thanks a lot Barbara.
David. Great texture shown here.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d61a01ef6a451bd3b726682cbc180b47cac5ba1b2f12a01bbff7bb2822e5cf9b.jpg
Fishermen in Tillamook Bay. Some will go over the bar and out to the ocean. 1/400sec; f/10/ 200mm. ISO 200
Doris, I find a lot of blue in your picture. Is this perhaps a monochrome picture instead of a B&W? Nice done.
nice image, well composed
though I wonder whether you horizon (or perceived horizon) is down on the right?
and I see a blue cast as well?
This is a lovely shot Doris, though I too see the blue tone in the water. Really lovely though and I actually like the touch of blue.
Great composition.
Lovely shot. I agree the horizon seems lower on the right side. I like the sparkles on the water.
I agree with everyone. The first one was too blue. Thanks for the review.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2d2883eb6000fa609f7e20a89617c209faf6021553dbed53cfdd204a874154ff.jpg
Awesome shot Doris. Try to straighten the horizon. Love it.
Great shot Doris 🙂
Nice shot. The boats are great silhouettes. The mountains and clouds in the background give the viewer a feel for the weather that day. Nice composition, although I would personally have left a little more room for the front boat to move into. Great work!
Nice image Doris.
Dorris, lovely image. Well done.
Alaska using a Canon 60D 400mm lens, 1/640 f8 iso 40 Was also ID as one found listed a the ranger station.https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/954977f34e709051a08a7b6917f770f59e425d607d8985b6c7e40cfe221a9e10.jpg
Fantastic capture, absolutely brilliant. The only time I’ve managed to capture one he/she was just too far away
Is that the horizon line we can see at the top right? It probably needs straightening or cropping.
iso 40?
Norm, good picture. Well balanced. Perhaps a little crop on the upper side to get rid of the distracting line (of the coast?). Well done.
Thanks Christian, Cropping is done.
Good one Norm. The tale shows up very well in B&W. Agree with the others about a small crop at the top. Would love to see one like that, never mind photograph it!
Thanks for all the input I have cropped the horizon and edited the iso https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7c0d5c64cc3f28e102de4807e9708389b2b5b55cd73eeca63d36e91ed0ee5212.jpg
the ISO should have been ISO 400
WOW, what a great capture – works great in B&W.
Amazing! Very good detail.
This version is much better; we are clearly focused on the moment the whale enters the water. Can even see the water droplets. Perfect timing!
Well done indeed! Great job with the water droplets.
Norm, very nice contrast of the tail against the water above it and the white foam below it.
Great job on the different tones here.
Great shot!
Very nice shot….great composition and looks fab in B&W!
Nice photo Norm. Great clarity, and well timed. I like it a lot.
even better
Great capture Norm.
Nice capture. Hard to get these shots sometimes. I do like the cropped version better since it corrects the horizon problem. Otherwise this is a great shot.
Very nice Norm!
Norm, right place right time. Great shot and detail.
My first post this challenge. Sorry to say I don’t like B&W – I’ve been trying to think why and all I can come up with is that I started with B&W (had no choice back then!) and was so thankful when colour came along. That said I have used B&W in photos in my career (geologist) – I soon found strata and structures in a rock face are far easier to see when photographed in B&W as oppose to colour. Anyway, I spotted this on the dog walk a couple of days ago, a small (about 3cm diameter) bright orange fungi on a fire-blackened tree stump. I don’t think it looks too bad in B&W though I do prefer the coloured version! Taken on RX100 iii, 8.8mm at 1/80, f 4.0, ISO 125.
Sorry, here’s the photo. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d393df8e5fb54c1454819d1ec897a892bd4f56ab36ad8dfd614d4d316d9ffb86.jpg
Hilary, I like your picture. It has something mysterious. Nice contrast of the fungo against the background. Well done.
Thanks Christian.
Beautiful image Hilary and a great mood. Love it
Thanks Erez. As I said, I prefer the colour version, but it’s not moody like this.
Very interesting photo. Great detail of the underside!
Thanks Valerie. I deliberatly tried to photo looking slightly up to capture the gills.
Well done.
Thanks Sara
I love this photo. There is some mystery to it. The square crop added more appeal to the photo. Nicely done Hilary.
Thanks Romy
Great shot of this mushroom. Composition is good and you can see the texture in the mushroom as well as the tree. My only suggestion is to bring up the shadows a bit.
Thanks Barbara. I was in two minds whether to bring up the shadows more. The stump itself was very black, the effect of the fire, and it seemed to lighten the whole thing too much. Possibly a better effect, but not as I remember it – the contrast of the new fungus with the old balckened stump. The fire we had was very bad and some of these old stumps are little more than charcoal.
Ah that makes a lot of sense. In that case leaving the shadows down is the better option.
Nicely done, I agree with lifting the shadow a little
Thanks John. See my response to Babara below.
Great capture Hilary – love how your mushroom is so much lighter than the background. Something to try is to give it even more “lightness” upping the details in the shadows too. Well done. Brent
This photo was taken a while ago and the colour version was posted in the Passion project. I convert it into b&w in the Photoshop, I want to make the sky and sunbeams lighter and brighter. The settings : F10,1/2000s, ISO400 at 122mm.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6357a7b74625d352041660e8f452fd58f57bfa3881d714517bec7b92029abd88.jpg
Janice, I saw the photo posted in the Passion project and liked it very much. I’ve just been back and had another look and still very much prefer the other version. It is warmer, and I think that suits this photo better. But, a lovely shot nevertheless.
Thanks Hilary, appreciate your comments.
Wow Janice, this is a great capture. There is a great story here with the people looking out towards the sea and looking at the terrific light beams coming out of the moody sky. Good job.
Thanks David
Great capture and beautiful light. Love that the people are only silhouettes.
It is a beautiful image as is, but I would like to see more drama at sky – it is worth more work at post
Thanks Erez, please see the updated version under Sara’s comment. Thanks
Lovely photo. I remember it from the passion project. I would like to see the people a little more to the left maybe, and a bit more detail in the sky. Personal preference as always.
Thanks Sara. I have enhanced the sunbeams and move the people to the 1/3 of the frame. Here is the updated version.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/17527a1552a0ee54ef99aa8ebb89e8223b86474b63d1fa2afb59a5089f11b652.jpg
Beautiful! So much emotion in this.
Thanks Valerie
Great photo Janice. I love the sun rays coming through the clouds, and the way it highlights the water in front of the people. Nice use of black and white.
Thanks Jeff
A lovely image, perfect for B/W, well done
Thanks John
Janice, this is my pick. Good job well done.
Janice, I love very much those silhouettes. The sunbeams are great too. Well done.
Thanks Christian
Awesome silhouette shot Janice. Make a big print for your wall. Well done.
Thanks Romy 🙂
Beautiful shot Janice……and the sun rays shining down on your subjects makes it very appealing!
Thanks Rerro
I love this photo. Great silhouette of the people. The sun rays draw you down to the people walking in the ocean. This is a great picture with good composition and tonal range. Nice work!
Thanks Barbara
Janice.
I love the sun rays and the silouhette of the people. Good composition and nice level horizon.
Playing with breakfast…
ISO 200, f/4.2 1/180s. Flash from the side (image top). https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f8ef85f75c9f1606cf8d814737f435032a00f4c20fbfa38709ca3f2e02f4634f.jpg
I love it! A sense of humor is so important, this is awesome.
Thanks Sara 🙂
This belongs in a kitchen somewhere!
Erez, very creative with a story. Perhaps it would be stronger if the lower part (cloth?) was not there. Well done.
Thanks for your feedback Christian. I actually tried with and without and liked more this version. Matter of personal taste
Maybe darken it a little? Think of it as part of the uterus wall. Now my imagination is running wild, ha ha.
Great shot!! I know you prefer the towel, and as you said, personal preference but maybe just slightly darker. My eye keeps going there. So fun though, I smile every time I look at it
Thanks for the feedback Gary. Bellow is the version with darker towel. I tend to agree with you that it is better.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/10d2e3a580de1434df8cbf5c87d157e008a96905fda8a1f5afda2deaec48efe6.jpg
Yes I agree too – love your concept Erez, very creative. Brent
My imagination sees Pacman chasing the sperm about to fertilize the egg. Very creative.
Thanks! It started just as Pita-bread Pacman chasing the sprouts, but when I decided that the sprouts require a target I followed the same line of thought 🙂
Very creative! Really cool idea, I am not sure the towel adds that much to the shot though.
Thanks Sheree. I added the towel because I felt that a framing of some kind is required. In respond to Gary bellow, I tried darkening this frame
Very creative and great imagination Erez. I agree with Peter Brody about pacman running after the sperms.
Thanks Romy 🙂
Ha ha…this is soo cool! I’ve only just worked out that they are bean sprouts! Love it, Erez!
Thank you Kerrie
Interesting and very creative Erez…..its amazing what we can create from a simple breakfast! Well done 🙂
Thank you Rerro
Love the creativity. The photo is full of texture. I can almost feel the photo its that good. Not sure if you meant for the back edge of the cookie to be soft and the cherry to be soft, otherwise this is a very interesting and well done photo. Great job!
What fun! The bright sprouts contrast very well against the dark fabric background!
Thanks Judy!
Good creativity here. Well done.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/80b1af440d8b917c8b9a8c733eb79576b69627a5f7a945818df502141ab638ed.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fe2dbf0b7a5dbca0a67cc2152d5488ee7604defe0c47d6fea3ec9b4a8ece08ce.jpg I took this photo at Longwood Garden outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I don’t have the settings. I made the one more sepia by increasing the temperature. Made it look more antique, turn of the century – early 1900s.
I like these. They remind me of a couple castle grounds in Germany. What were your settings? I am not sure which one I like better.
Thanks, Sara. When I imported the photo from my hard drive , the settings didn’t show up. Sorry.
Peter, I find the sepia one stronger then the B&W. Personally I think there should be more contrast in it. Good composition.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/73aabf470bbaa9516b44b934e8822948cf7a164913f1c29b705a7ac95c1df983.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cac3abba5496c41523cc380f6ddb0bf476c3d83f8a4ae4b1d5cf42e2c5567b61.jpg Thank you for the suggestion. I tried to add more contrast in each one.
I prefer these versions. Well done!
Thanks, Erez.
I too prefer the stronger contrast on this shot Peter…good shot!
Thanks, Rerro.
Peter, the contrast makes your picture much stronger. Well done.
Thanks for your advice, Christian.
Well done Peter. I also like the bottom photo better, it brings out the richness of the building.
Beautiful image in both versions.
If you already add color it is worth trying to add a cold color, like dark blue, to the shadows and the sepia tones to the highlights – it usually adds contrast.
Thank you, Erez. See my re -edited version below under Christian’s response.
Hi Peter, nice shot. Personally, I like the sepia version. Awesome.
Thanks, Romy.
Great work! After viewing both photos I do like the sepia tone better. It gives it an old time look and has a little more details in the shadows.
Thanks, Barbara.
Both are very good with a lot of lines and shapes to draw your eyes. I agree with the group that the sepia tone is more appealing.
Thanks, Valerie.
Pete:
Really nice photo. I do like the vintage sepia look.
Thank you, Jim.
I like the sepia toned image best. As you say, it fits with the period of the building. I think you have some scope to increase the contrast just a bit, but then that might detract from the vintage mood, when images typically had less sharp contrast. Personally, I would stick with the sepia version as is.
Thank you , Judy.
Peter, Lovely shot. In this case the sepia version would be my pick.
Thanks, Denis.
Love all the fountains in your image Peter – they really stand out from the darker foliage. For me the B/W works better than the sepia. Something you should try is to move a little more to your right and get everything in symmetry. Well done. Brent
Thanks, Brent. I hope you are enjoying your time off with the family.
I am – jumping in here when I get a chance
Here is one of my favorite photos from my https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/20e58b24680a89dfe1b7c5054b52e7377df614ad73be3c589c5a2c5aca2cc41c.jpg “bucket list” trip to the Galapagos last year. I converted it to B&W to capture more textures. Love the story of mother and pup. NikonD5300; 1/200; f/7.1; 23mm; ISO 400.
Beautiful job, tack sharp. Captures a wonderful moment in time.
Leila, I find this a good composition. To give more attention to your POI, you could give contrast between the seals and the soil. That could be rather difficult as I see the skin of the mother is much lighter then that of the child.
Great capture of a sweet moment – love it
Aw…. levely shot and I bet it probably is better in black and white!
Great shot Leila…looks like you had a wonderful trip…lucky thing!
Cute sea lions. Nice composition. The sea lions themselves make a line that brings the viewer in and out and back into the photo. Great texture as well. My only suggestion would be to possible give a tiny bit more room at the top and right side. Nice work!
Taken on Biscayne Bay, south of Miami 2016 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/09eb1781417dca0e6c27ba42c8b1cf74a8d83651574680a1b6364abf4f6ff97d.jpg f/4 1/4000 ISO 200 26mm
I really love the sky and contrast with the sails! I may try to take out some of the water in the foreground and focus more on the sailboat.
I can do that! Thanks!
As a lover of clouds and water, this shot resonates with me. Well done.
Absolutely Love this! So good! .The sky and water are so moody. The sails reflect the sea state perfectly… I wouldn’t remove any water, as I think it adds so much to this image. I might use a radial filter over the boat to bring out a bit more detail. I’m guessing that you shot this from a moving boat, not easy, and you’ve done it so well.
Beautiful shot. Love the sky.
Thanks!
Wonderful shot and by keeping the yacht small in the overall dramatic image, you beautifully emphasized the feeling in sailing: the bond with the sea and wind. Love it
Erez, interesting comment. I agree. The vastness of the water and the sky adds to the vulnerability of the “small” sloop. I did crop some of the water out and it just didn’t work for me.
Dramatic b&w scene. Very nice.
Janice, thanks for the comment. Drama: yes!
Brilliant…love this shot….those clouds are awesome!
THANK-YOU, Rerro! This image is one of my favorites, but I think it might be a bit better in color!
Excellent photo! The composition is great and the clouds give it a moody look. My only suggestion is maybe bring down the noise in the clouds. Otherwise this is an awesome photo. Nice work!
Thanks, Barbara, for your comments! I will take a look at the original file; the noise doesn’t show up so much on my display (a laptop).
Understood. Things don’t always look the same on the discussion board as they do on our monitors.
Great photo! Creates a feeling of strength and courage.
Really interesting clouds. Nice image
Thanks, Jim. Angry clouds do add some drama!
Nice shot but some bad weather coming ,a definite contrast between the water & sky ,Clouds look heavy as they roll in ,you can see the line cut into the water where the yacht has sailed .You must have been close to get that image on a 26mm or did you crop to bring it in ? ,still a great shot
fiat76, nice image. I like the sky in particular. Tells of things to come.
Having lived there, I can picture this. Especially if this was taken in the afternoon. Thunder storms rolling in and you’d best be heading for port. Love the contrast in the clouds.
Once I was walking in a park with peculiar constructions as aprt of a private collection. As I was standing in such a construction I saw there was a hole in the roof. So I took a picture pointing upwards. The symmetrie and the structure were for me a reason to take this picture.
settings: 18mm 1/5000 f/8 ISO 100 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6250cd6bf9be450b70ecdf0157488ea954a513383ff3bdda87e535c9792aa7f6.jpg
Awesome, but I would not want to look at it for too long, I might get dizzy. 😉 Well done.
Sara, you’re right. I found myself a bit unstable while composing and focusing.
Great geometry/pattern!!! With Sara on the dizzy factor though. 🙂
Thank you Gary.
Very nice composition. I can see this on the wall in an office! Great contrast.
Sheree, you give me an idea. Thanks.
This is cool Christian. very “arty”
Thank you Keri.
Great shot Christian. Interesting angle. Also, this would make a good material for a composite.
Thank you Romy.
Love the shot but I have difficulty looking at the lines because of my vertigo. I envy people who can look up and not tip over. Great shot.
Thank you Karen.
Interesting shot. I like the pattern and where it takes you. Great job!
Thank you Barabra.
Nice one Christian. A lovely abstract that lends itself well to the B&W approach.
Thank you Hilary.
Wow, this is great, Christian. The sky looks like a luminous sphere! Great B&W image.
Thank you Kerrie.
Great B&W, love the pattern and the interesting sky above add a lot
Thank you Erez.
Great b&w photo Christian. Love the pattern, very interesting.
Thank you Janice.
Love the composition and that you filled the frame with your subject….i am at odds to whether the center should be a solid white? Not sure
Christine, in fact through this construction you see the sky (rather heavy cloudy) at that moment. If I fill the center with solid white, it doesn’t match with the sky between the laths of the construction. I could of course modify in Photoshop: select all sky and replace by solid white. Would you consider such a result as part of the current challenge? Let me know. If so, I will try.
I would try fill it with the same colour in between the laths….the grey. Just so it is uniform
Very nice shot. To me it looks like a close-up, night shot of the moon (with a very interesting sky around it).
Thank you Olof.
This is very good! I like the abstract feel of it. I would not have known what it was without your comments.
Thank you Valerie.
Very nice. I like the spiraling upwards effect. Nice use of black and white.
Thank you Jef.
Excellent composition – well done!
Thank you Sig.
Nice
Thank you Jim.
Very effective composition, Christian I really like the contrast of the rigid roof materials against the soft clouds.
Christian, interesting shot and well taken.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/98d4f49da4c6347c63476c8edbf5dc9d9d392157fb0b17a0ac5e6385c46cc46e.jpg
Peterborough Lift Locks. One of Parks Canada Heritage Sites and apparently the highest of this type in the world.
1/200 @ f7.1 iso 100, 10mm lens
Gary, I like very much this picture. Great contrast. Good composition. Well done.
Thank you Christian. Some things just work out with B/W. Got lucky with this one. 🙂
REally like the lines and composition on this shot. Great handling of the tones as well.
Thank you Sheree. it was a pretty flat mid day so I did need help in post.
Great shot Gary. Love everything about it.
Thank you Keri!
I like the leading line you use to draw the viewer into the lock. Great composition. Nice black and white photo!
Thanks Barbara.
Love the detail in this photo.
Thank you Karen.
Awesome shot Gary. Well done.
By the way just for the fun of it try to make a composite by adding a plane flying by in between the two towers. Or maybe superman? That would be fun, lol .
Thanks Romy. I am tied up today but what a fun idea idea. I will give it a whirl (probably tomorrow) and add it to the thread.
Romy, I had a few minutes today and upon closer examination I found this in the photo. I thought it was sensor dirt. 🙂 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b149efdf17d91bf96f02b0b5290c48986755d668bb6b9eb683c93c4bbd2220cc.jpg
Beautiful shot – lovely composition and the groups of lines make it great B&W. Very well done
Thank you Erez.
Love all the leading lines Gary, and the sharpness of the architecture, Good shot!
Thanks Rerro. 🙂
Gary what a great angle! Love the lines, and the clouds. The addition in the second photo as well. 😉
Thanks Sara. Romy is the inspiration for the second.
Really nice shot Gary. I love the perspective, the contrast and the detail.
Thanks Jim. 🙂
What an excellent image. Really nice contrast between the foreground and back structures, and the lines from the railing, and the reflections, and the textures in the buildings, and the soft clouds…love it all.
Gary great image. Well composed and taken. Great line and angles. Well done.
Thank you Denis. 🙂
Wooden Bridge in Atlanta Georgia national park. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e4d8c0c2c000ebec6546cf40eea575cb9ff8ecc15906fd85bddae6a3372df30d.jpg
Hi Kevin. Nice shot
Love this shot. Great texture in the wood and evenly lighted. Great work!
Thank you for the encouraging comment.
Your welcome.
I’m a little nervous of covered bridges. (or any bridges). It’s has a slightly sinister look with the dark shadows and and the spots of light. Nice shot.
Really nice shot, Kevin! Love the bridge and great handling of dark and light!
Lovely shot Kevin with all the patterns and wood texture and you managed harsh light conditions very well. Love it
Kevin, nice picture with the repeating patterns. Good composition with those leading lines. Well done.
Wonderful shot Kevin. Just something about these old bridges. 🙂
Thank you Gary I love patterns
Great job! The lines are great.
Well done Kevin, Love the use of light and dark and your trailing lines. This would look nice in a frame.
Great shot, nice leading lines and composition, well done
Nice Kevin. I wonder if you played with the shadows slider if you couldn’t bring out some details in the shadows and enhance the image
thank you I’ll take a look at your suggestion
Kevin, I like this shot. Would agree with Jims suggestion re the shadows.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/57d7bf7f5505524ed7aa5c934c15952f6c842a5bf7aad39f7e556fb8073e21c0.jpg
I do this version with a little more detail in the shadows Kevin. Love all the repeating lines, shapes and the textures in the floorboards. The leading lines in this image sucks my eye to the end of the tunnel. Well done. Brent
thanks you for the advise
f 4. ISO 100 17mm
I took this picture in New Orleans on a mansion tour
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/88deb07577872640b986c20ea37a15a512c89d0381c67d424c9d05e75a5cd4f1.jpg
Beautiful shot Jolie. The shadows cast are of varying shades of the grayscale. Nice.
Nice job on getting lights and shadows. This is a great shot and shows texture and interesting shadow play.
Love the shadows on the ground as they meander past the tree.
Nice handling of the darks and brights. Lovely photo
Jolie, interesting picture with all those light spots on the ground. I love the structure of those interwoven branches of the trees. Well done.
Nice I like how angle leads you to the focal point
Jolie great job with the shadows.
Nice shot Jolie. The contrast between the shadows and light creates impact. A simple scene but effective.
Nice Jolie
Jolie, A simple scene well composed and taken.
Love those large trees and the way the trees frame the pathway. It would be great if you had a major point of interest at the end of that pathway – something to think about next time youre out shooting. Well done. Brent
This is a photo of giraffes I took at Western Plains zoo a couple of years back from my accommodation at Safari Lodge. I have found getting the balance quite difficult in converting. Now that I have watched the masterclass I will shoot in b&w. I do however like the outcome. This was my first outing with my first dslr. Settings are 1/200, F8, ISO 160 @ 250mm. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e35811246c9726d8e180f5c9fa3a1c4ad3278305d40ea21c01b1429873db0983.jpg
Great shot Keri! I love how you managed to separate the giraffes from the background.
Cheers Gary. They kind of stood out all by themselves. Great models
Wow this is just beautiful. I love the soft look and the darks and lights are perfect. Great job!
Thank You Barbara. Very nice feedback.
Very nice, Keri.
Thank You Karen.
Lovely photo Keri. The giraffes coat lends itself to B&W. I must try this on some of my giraffe photos.
Thanks Hillary. And yes you should.
Nice shot Keri. Did you notice that the two giraffes in the middle had their necks positioned that they give the illusion of one big giraffe with two heads? Interesting.
I didnt even see that 🙂
Really nice shot, Keri. I may have also tried to darken the background a bit more and also cropped out the post on the right hand side, but that does nt leave much space for the giraffe on the right!
Great B&W shot.
Thanks Sheree. I have replied to couple of others with a slightly different crops. One wider and one with the post out. Can you see them? Let me know what you think.
Lovely shot Keri. The separation from the background is very good too.
There are many advantages to Brent’s approach of taking a B&W image in camera, but personally I prefer taking a color image and convert it in post – you have much more control on the conversion. Playing with the different color scrollers often obtains contrast that can’t be obtained otherwise.
I agree with you Erez, I think the idea is to help to “see” in black and white. I set my camera to monochrome, but will try colour today then convert in post.
Thanks Erez. I’m not sure which process I prefer yet. I am sure by the end of the month I will have better idea.
Keri, those patterns on the skin of the giraffes are just asking of making a B&W picture.
Thank You Christian. Of all the ones I had a go at, the giraffe converted so well because of the colours.
Keri, these are truly majestic creatures. I am struck by the clear separation of the giraffes in the foreground and the brush in the background. I agree with Sheree. Tasking out the post on the right would help with a cleaner capture of this family.
Thanks Derryl. I was worried about cropping so much and not giving them space. But I have done that just a tad more. What do you think. Have I compromised the scale of the giraffe or enhanced the shot by bringing it in more?https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/975c496dabbc6719a3165718ae3b170700bf2cbee5628e664deb894b298eb903.jpg
Well done.
Thanks Sara
Nice clarity Keri. Great use of black and white. I wonder what this would look like if you gave them space on the right hand side to look into instead of looking at the end of the photo. I do like this shot tho.
Hi Jeff. Here’s an altered version. Thanks for the feedback
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ea4feced0b2d4b7ff5658ff036acf4e5ee31a5625f4345035b1576daadc6db13.jpg
Keri, The altered version is my preference. Great shot. Well done.
Great shot Keri
Beautiful subjects for a B&W challenge!
Went to our Wildlife refuge today. I did shoot this as black and white in camera, then manually adjusted the settings in Lightroom and Photoshop to get the effect I wanted. I shot it using my Nikon D5300 @ f/8, ISO 100, 1/200 of a sec at 22mm. I have such a hard time with this discussion board. The pictures will look perfect on my screen and facebook page but are always darker here. So I have prepared a lighter version as well. Please let me know which you like the best. Thanks https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4a142e7eeb1dec0b8306b54347c282a805de1ce6deba31be4e4b0c2ea7652538.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b34cda3594fa1c2bc5cd008496916b5d40fe56bd7899277dd7c804badbc5c53c.jpg
Lovely photo Barbara. I prefer the second, darker version which has more contrast. Where is this? It reminds me of the Fens in UK.
This is at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near Cambridge, Maryland. Thanks. I like the darker original one which you can’t see here unfortunately.
Ironic! The Fens are near Cambridge England!!
Wow that is cool!
Love all the different tones here. I also prefer the second one with more contrast.
Thanks
Love both versions. Beautiful composition
Thank you
Thank you
Barbara, darkening the clouds and sky gives your picture a more dramatic effect.
Thank you
Thank you.
Yup! More contrast in the sky gives a much deeper sense of me being there. What birds do you see on these ponds?
Thanks. Depending on the season you can see white pelicans, Canada geese, snow geese, different types of ducks, blue herons, egrets and some different types of shore birds.
I prefer the second image: the clouds are more dramatic.
Thank you Sara
NIce job. I like what you did in post.
Thank you Jim
I like the darker one best. Really nice image.
Thank you
Hi Barbara – I like the sky from the darker version and everything else from the first version where I think the brighter rushes & grasses in the middle and foreground appeal most to me. 🙂
Thank you. I may be able to figure out how to make it look like that.
Barbara, The second shot for me. Love the sky and fluffy clouds. Print and Frame.
Thank you. I might just do that.
Barbara, I like the way you have framed the photo with the grasses in the foreground which looks better to me in the lighter version where I see more detail in the water. However, I do like the way the clouds pop in the darker version. This may have been a good candidate for HDR processing.
Thank you. Yes HDR may have been the way to go.
This old cat was at a sanctuary I visited. He was so calm and loved posing. I don’t usually shoot B&W which is strange because when I was shooting film, I always shot in B&W. I converted this one but didn’t have access to LR so used the Windows edit program. I might play with this one a bit since the original was pretty close to B&W except for the background. Will also have to shoot some B&W on my trip this week.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d53d417e510492fb27823033c8195148e7eaf4cf44ed0cecff9e12fea273303f.jpg
What a handsome panther. This photo turned out perfect. Sharp eyes, great detail in his fur. Just awesome.
Great shot Karen. Try zooming in and making a potrait crop of the head and sharpen the eyes a bit more and see the difference. I made a screenshot of the crop here to show what I meant. Just a suggestion though. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2770b5c504b659a4477e5367b00518320b7db305c027282e4931937014145e8c.png
2nd try to post this. This old cat was at a sanctuary I visited. He was so calm and loved posing. I don’t usually shoot B&W which is strange because when I was shooting film, I always shot in B&W. I converted this one but didn’t have access to LR so used the Windows edit program. I might play with this one a bit since the original was pretty close to B&W except for the background. Will also have to shoot some B&W on my trip this week.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d53d417e510492fb27823033c8195148e7eaf4cf44ed0cecff9e12fea273303f.jpg
Wow, the high contrast of the fur has a painterly effect. I find the background mesh a little distracting, not sure if there is a way to blur it a bit in post processing. A handsome beast!
Love this photo…facing you and so intent. While playing around, would try to blur background a bit.
His fur looks so silky!
Powerful image Karen – the intense stare vs. the overall calmness adds tension and interest – very well done
Karen, nice picture. Beautiful black soft skin (I think) skin. Good focus on the eyes. Well done. What are your settings?
Nice one Karen. Its perfect with that highlight on the head to separate it from the body.
Karen, the wiskers are what capture my attention. Crisp, and clean. Let this be an inspiration to to get out and find one of these majestic cats in the wild . . . and return to tell about it. I love these creatures our God has made for us to enjoy and admire. They often do a much better job giving praise to our Creator than we as people do!
Wow great detail! Very intense stare. Nice job.
Lovely job! The detail is very well done.
Karen, I am attracted to the eyes. As a veterinarian, I wonder what happened in his life that his right eyelid droops. His ears are off a bit ,too. Maybe he has some neurological issue, which is why he is in the sanctuary. He is a beautiful animal. Great stare !
Stunning photo! What a gorgeous animal.
Wow. What a beautiful animal. Such calm and yet so much power. It looks like it’s trying to figure you out! I wonder if you could use Photoshop to remove the chain link fence? Or, maybe (based on Peter’s comment) you could crop it down to just his/her head in order to highlight the eyes. Really nice shot Karen! Oops. Now I see that you’ve already done that. Nice job!
Great capture, Karen. The detail is awesome. I don’t mind the mesh fence…It is a reminder that this beautiful creature is in captivity. Well done.
Nicely done Karen. I get the feeling this guy is pretty old and sad.
Karen, Good composition here. Again I like the simplicity of the shot. Not overdone and good balance throughout.
Poor old boy – looks lonely, it’s in his eyes. Like how his eyes pop because of that darker coat. His whiskers jump out too – maybe a little too much. I’d take this in Lightroom and give it another edit. I’m wondering if you got a slightly different angle – more to your left you might avoid some of that background fencing? Well done. Brent
Walked around the yard, and took tons of photos today. Learning camera and Lr at the same time!
D750 ISO100 70mm f5.6 1/500sec. Bright sunny day!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f2d5218e5e95d79e7aacafecbea3b9b08f91d7630ff5e91d3c81eeedcd99d938.jpg
Great texture but not holding my eye, maybe a tighter crop?
Thanks, Tessa. If I tried to crop a bit more, it was an uninteresting abstract! I may try to photograph from the other angle today to capture the handle as well! Thanks for your comment.
Great subject for B&W and choice of crop. Love it
thanks!
Sharpening wheel – cool
Nice texture, if you had cropped tighter I mightn’t have picked it for what it is
Thanks, Nick. I will try to capture the handle today, sun was in wrong location yesterday to do that!
You are doing a good job with the learning. This photo shows great texture in the wheel and you have lines that bring the viewer to the center of the photo. Great job!
Many thanks, Barbara!
I used these wheels for years in my trade a cabinet maker. It brings back so many memories. Nice depth and texture in the stone.
Thanks, Derryl. It is a sharpening stone that my husband’s grandfather had back in the 1930’s and he has the wheel—he had to make a holder for it, though!
Hi Sheree, wonderful shapes and textures in this shot. I think I may have brought the top down a little to get rid of the small dark triangles in the corners. Great job.
Thanks, David. Just wonder if I got rid of the dark triangles if that would remove the shape of the circle? I will give it a try.
Well done. I look forward to seeing your other photos if this. Interesting subject.
Beautiful texture and tones in the stone. Nice image, Sheree.
Many thanks.
Tried a few different angles this morning of the sharpening stone. This is a different angle which I liked. I want to make the top right triangle a bit darker, but am guessing that Lr cannot handle that in post…… Anyway, here is another version!
Soft early morning light-D750 ISO250 70mm f2.8 1/1250
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8b1a108a9b3d34d9a837d7cbb62fa9b40c88dbbdf95844ed1713c9de8e1a650b.jpg
Sheree, Nice shape and textures in this shot. Well done.
Thanks, Denis.
This is my third attempt at uploading, first too big, now looks too small…oh well.
I took this photo in a hospital waiting room, I found the shabby paint and flamingo wall hanging faintly ridiculous! Converted to B&W in Lightroom using a Hi-Contrast Blue filter and a slight adjustment to temperature.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c535b4ff1092065ecc75d1fc66c7f60ca08d07a281f1b55169e52fe32e98c717.jpg
Wow! Not sure about the doctors office (going there anyways) LOL! This picture is great. It shows good tonal range and also shows the texture of the paint etc. Nice composition as well.
The thing I like the most about this photo is the indent in the back of the big chair. Years and years and years of patients waiting . . . wondering . . . withering. What are the stories of those who sat in this chair? “The tests show you are clear of cancer.” or “Please sit down. I have some sad news for you . . .” Who sat in the chair next to the big chair . . . holding the patient’s hand, placing an hand of comfort on an arm. Tessa, if you have Photoshop, I would suggest removing the bit of the table at the left to remove distraction from the main image. Great capture.
Thanks Derryl, I don’t have photoshop but will have a go in Lightroom.
Tessa, I think that Derryl has said it all about the story behind the picture. I love the indentation in the big chair and the viewers eyes are certainly drawn to it. Good job. What were your settings?
Hi David,
The photo was taken on my iPhone so I am not responsible for the settings. However, Lightroom tells me: exposure 1/35 sec @f2.2 ISO160.
Thanks Tessa.
This could be a scene from an old black and white sitcom! Good contrast.
Nice composition. It makes you wonder about he stories the room could tell.
A very poignant image, Tessa.
I bet those chairs have stories to tell if they could talk. Nice photo Tessa. I like the variances of whites, and the nice use of shadows. Well done.
Perfect size @disqus_7ARmH5v4Av:disqus in my opinion – yes the thumbnail looks small but when I click on it – it shows up large. Love the tones in your image and yes I can see what you mean by the “institutional feel” of this image. I’ve spend some time in doctors waiting rooms in the last month and have studied them too. Like the old chair with the dent in the vinyl from someone sitting in it. Well done. Brent
Tessa, interesting subject matter. I love the contrast. It definitely evokes an “institutional” feel.
The image cried out ‘waiting room’ before I read any of your notes. My eye goes right to the stretched oval of the chair back. As many other have said, we can only imagine the stories of people who have waited in that chair.
Tessa, Nice simple shot well taken. Well done.
I take my young lad to his swimming lesson most Sundays and I find the roof/ceiling of the swim centre interesting and intriguing
1/40 , f/11, iso 200, 24mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/98077b2fa53d9773ce10c6b7beb0925734a90e0ecf27666184c88267ecc52cce.jpg
Nick, indeed an interesting pattern on the ceiling. Good composition with your leading lines.
Great lines. I like the contrast of the eucalypts in the background.
Great handling of the light and dark! I love the pattern—- good spot!
I like this photo. The lines that go across and also back into the photo draw the viewer in. There is great tonal range and texture here as well. Great job!
Nick, you are quite correct, the shapes, lines and contrast between light and dark all go to making this an intriguing and compelling composition. Good job.
Well done! Leading lines and lines everywhere! Great job capturing an interesting ceiling.
Nick, I like way my eyes are drawn into the picture.
Nice photo Nick. I like how the lines take me right out of the photo. Nice clarity.
Textures are great in this image, also all the lines and dynamic range. Well done. Think the only thing missing is a single point of interest here. Brent
Nice lines and tones, Nick. Great subject choice for B&W image.
Nice shot Nick! Great symmetry
I also like the symmetry in this shot and the way my eyes are led to the wall of windows on the far edge. I have a feeling that the B&W treatment made this ceiling more interesting than it would have been in colour.
Nick. A no no in colour, but in B/W it works. Well done.
Thank you Claire.
I took my camera into my front garden this afternoon, set it to black and white, and one of the photos I came back with was this flower.
Settings: 1/320 sec @ f/2.8 ISO-200, lens MZ.12-40 @ 40mm
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/913123d0e46c34fae137c35d1649a567467399867743ff22f9245961360cab1e.jpg
Rodney, I love your picture. I see the left petals are sharp, the right not. Perhaps a smaller aperture with greater DOF. You can still use some stops in SS. As you took it in your own garden, you don’t have to go far. In this cade I would center the flower. It is a great looking picture. Well done.
Christian—sorry for my ignorance, but I understand smaller aperture, but what are “stops in SS”?
Sheere, my suggestion for Rodney was for example to reduce aperture with 1 stop to f/5.6. That means you got less light. To compensate there should be 1 stop more with schutter speed (SS): 1/320 -> 1/160. With the latter you got more light. Minus 1 stop (aperture) plus 1 stop (SS) gives a neutral effect to the picture. The interesting thing about going to f/5.6 is that you get more DOF.
Or he could up the ISO by one stop too and use same shutter speed. Yes I suggested a more closed aperture too for more depth of field. Brent
Christian, thanks for your comments. I agree I could have closed down the aperture a little to increase the DOF. I didn’t notice the soft right side till I was back inside and it was too dark to take another. I believe I had turned the camera a bit to get a better background and so was skew to the flower, hence needing more DOF.
However I liked the image I had. But because the right side was soft, I thought it better to place the flower off centre and keep the emphasis on the mostly sharper areas.
I will try to get another shot next weekend.
Love the flower, Rodney and your Black and white. I would try to get all in focus, though. Great lines and shapes for B&W…. and probably looks better in B&W!
Sheree, thanks for your comments.
What a masterpiece. The flower is crisp and sharp. You can see the textures and lines on the petals. Composition is spot on and the background is perfect allowing the flower to pop off the page. Excellent job!
Barbara, thanks for your comments.
Rodney, the flower really pop’s and is nice and sharp. You have isolated the flower beautifully and you can clearly see all the textures and lines on the petals. Good job.
David, thanks.
Beautiful! Great depth of field, very crisp.
Thanks Sara.
Fantastic….love it!
Thanks Rerro.
Lovely B&W shot. Great Bokeh, and sharp focus on centre of the flower. I think a square crop would work better.
Thanks Kerrie. I felt the off centre composition worked better with the one soft edge, however our photos would probably be boring if we all thought the same. 😉 I will see what I can do if I get a sharper version.
Excellent capture Rodney – wow, love how your flower jumps out of this image. Clicked on it to see it large and love the detail you have captured – those textures in the middle rock! Pity the right part of the flower is a little “soft” but I think that’s because you used f/2.8 – I think maybe f5.6 would have gotten it all sharp (because of the extra depth of field) and still had your background blurred. Brent P.S. You should print this one and hang on your wall.
Thank Brent. I agree about the aperture as I said in my response to Christian.
Will try another shot on the weekend. It is dark when I get home from work.
@brentmail:disqus @christianpiron:disqus @disqus_ZMqciOxroU:disqus @disqus_8VjGhpbQJo:disqus @disqus_cdh6bhNTbb:disqus @rerrorocher:disqus @kerrie_clarke:disqus @disqus_G9wzfywbn4:disqus @disqus_fGWrfrmXu3:disqus @denisobyrne:disqus @erezshilat:disqus @disqus_sy7k92j4W1:disqus @disqus_7ARmH5v4Av:disqus
I went out into the garden again and the original flower has now gone. I found another on the same bush and this one had the centre flower petals opened more. Even though this time I had the camera straight on to the flower, I did also close down the aperture to f/5.6 to ensure the full flower was in focus. I needed to darken the background a little in post because it was closer behind the flower than the first photo, hence not so much bokeh, even before closing down the aperture. I did centre this one as now all of the flower is the point of interest.
Settings: 1/100 sec @ f/5.6 ISO-200, lens MZ.12-40 @ 40mm
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0fb1c812c934af5ec391c3497976c5bbffba1c4b27c9b97cafd65fb0033c5e0a.jpg
Really nice image Rodney. I like the composition, that you didn’t center the flower in the frame. Nice job!
Thanks Jim. Seems to be a mix of opinions to either centre it or to keep it off centre. I am with you with this image.
SO beautiful and great details
Thanks Erez.
Rodney, really nice! It is amazing what we can find in our own yards if we look with a creative eye!
Thanks Jim.
Lovely texture.
Thanks Tessa.
Rodney. Nice texture in this shot. I think it could be a tad sharper.
Thanks Dennis. Agree about the sharpness as I said in my response to Christian.
Lovely composition.
Thanks Sara.
@christianpiron:disqus @disqus_fGWrfrmXu3:disqus @disqus_ZMqciOxroU:disqus @disqus_8VjGhpbQJo:disqus @disqus_cdh6bhNTbb:disqus @rerrorocher:disqus @kerrie_clarke:disqus @brentmail:disqus @disqus_G9wzfywbn4:disqus @erezshilat:disqus @disqus_sy7k92j4W1:disqus @disqus_7ARmH5v4Av:disqus @denisobyrne:disqus
I went out into the garden again and the original flower has now gone. I found another on the same bush and this one had the centre flower petals opened more. Even though this time I had the camera straight on to the flower, I did also close down the aperture to f/5.6 to ensure the full flower was in focus. I needed to darken the background a little in post because it was closer behind the flower than the first photo, hence not so much bokeh, even before closing down the aperture. I did centre this one as now all of the flower is the point of interest.
Settings: 1/100 sec @ f/5.6 ISO-200, lens MZ.12-40 @ 40mm
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0fb1c812c934af5ec391c3497976c5bbffba1c4b27c9b97cafd65fb0033c5e0a.jpg
“Unknown Danger” My two young linguist friends, David and Sarah happily walk in the shadow of an enormous scorpion set up after the final victory of the Lanna Thai King over numerous Burmese invasions on the northern border of Thailand. And just in case the message was not clear enough, he set up a giant scorpion statue at Wat Pra That Doi Wao brandishing its claws towards Burma with a reminded . . . “and stay out!” I love the ominous feel of “approaching darkness” in the skies. Settings: 1/250 sec @ f/8.0 ISO 800 @ 16mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0e8198a5a2326bef4b4e84e472390d853f8a5b9c52159dbb9eb77e29b30ff30e.jpg
Derryl, you nailed this shot. Great contrast and subject matter. The sky is amazing and it looks like the scorpion is jus about to capture your friends with its claws. A couple of the areas are a little dark for me. Did you do any editing in Lightroom or other? Anyway a great shot and story.
Hey David, yes I did some editing in Lightroom. Here is the same shot with a slightly lighter exposure and some lightening brush strokes. What do you think? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6df9c5cdcddc40c53a6b0be4137ea969d1189857b1b8f23649cc9e405a5d07ef.jpg
Well done. they look too happy for something bad to happen to them! Very interesting sculpture. I like the composition and the lighter version, as it gives just a bit more detail.
Cool photo Derryl. I actually like the bottom photo better, it tells more of the story.
Nice capture Derryl. This version is better.
Derryl. Prefer this one.
Wow!!! Lovely shot. I thought you had a longer exposure as the clouds have movement in them!
Great story telling shot. Love all the tones and textures in this image.
Ominous is the first word to jump into my mind with your excellent capture Derryl. Love those dark skies and feeling of impending doom in this shot. I think what would have made this better is if your subjects had the same “fearful” expressions on their faces – then the image and feel of this image would be congruent. Well done. Brent
Dramatic story telling image – love it
Nice
This is a great image! I think it is particularly good in B&W. Dramatic and playful.
Derryl, Good image and well taken. I like the perspective you got from the low angle. Well done.
My next image was taken at the Fremantle E-Shed markets after dark. 30 sec. f/16 70 mm at ISO100
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/28c48427e501dda60e21c7219c41ab41f982e9f61d48c005f571e384da035dc5.jpg
I was wondering where you’d got to!
Nice image, great leading line from the top left and enough detail to interest the eye. Cool photo
Starburst filter? Is that someone and their dog?
Still here Nick :)….just out and about!…..no filter….just f16 and the star effect from the aperture of the Tamron lens
Great start bursts on the lights, and overall clarity. Really like this!
Thanks Sheree 🙂
Great shot! Love the lights!
Thanks Ingrid 🙂
Great challenge image @rerrorocher:disqus – love the dark blacks in your image. Also the starburst effect of the street lights are great using f/16 aperture. Like the leading lines from the roof and then the higher light above the roof for me is the main point of interest in your shot. The detail in your image is really good too. I think what missing is a foreground interesting object, something for my eye to settle on. Well done. Brent
Thanks for the feedback Brent….i will keep in mind about the foreground. I was looking at leading lines here, leading me to the e-shed building at the back of the image.
Great shot, Rerro. The curve and shadows of the structure on the left and that row of lights make for a really good B&W . Nice starbursts!
Thanks Kerrie 🙂
Christine, very good picture. The leading lines at the left side get me to the background with the starbursting lights briinging me back again to the foreground.There is a lot of gray shades and therefore it gives me a smooth effect. Well done.
Thanks Christian 🙂
Great leading lines and star lights. I like it that the curve starts from the corner. Well done
Thanks Erez 🙂
Nicely done Christine! I love the lines, the curves, tones, contrast & the lights
Thanks Jim…that’s exactly what i was after with this shot 🙂
I have been here!!! I love the lines and the flares are great. A really cool place to capture.
Thanks Keri 🙂
Beautiful!
Great Job as usual! Love the sunbursts on the lights. The leading lines. Awesome!
Thanks Sara 🙂
The leading lines are definitely terrific in this image. I like the little pops of light from under the eaves on the left and the way they subtly echo the larger lights on the right. It must look very different when the markets are in full swing during the day. Lovely image, Christine.
Thanks Judy…..it is always a hive of activity!
Rerro, Ploughing my way through all the posts since I was away.Like this. nice leading lines and good angles. The light is well captured and balanced. Like it.
Thanks Denis….welcome back….you were missed 🙂
Interesting structure on the San Francisco Embarcadero. f/2.2; Exposure time 1/2283 sec; ISO-32. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d8ec7477849b92c81099f7b70bdfce408675f01245614b66ac4725835a0efb2c.jpg
Very cool “negative” image. Takes me back to my days in the darkroom. I like how the arms of the structure come toward you and reach out, away from you. Gives the image depth along with the lines of the Bay Bridge in the background.
Thank you, Jim!
Ingrid, it gives a surreal effect. Nice picture. Interesting lines in the sructure. How did you get this negative picture?
Thank you, Christian! I used Alien Skin Exposure to change it to a negative effect.
Interesting image. Like it very much
Thank you, Erez!
Really interesting effect
Thank you, Jim!
This is a very interesting effect! I may not have used so much vignetting—but great overall result.
Yes this looks very much like an alien invasion to me – with your plugin you used. Like all the lines in this image but I agree with @disqus_fGWrfrmXu3:disqus about the vignette, maybe a little too much. Thanks for sharing, Brent
Such an interesting subject! Very alien, indeed. My opinion the vignette is too much.
Ingrid, Great subject for B/W. I might lighten off on the vignette.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bcfc600cac23badb8e9e3100fd2894f8a9d376af6c2e815b17fcf7f09306c704.jpg
I took this image at The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand. These creatures just captivated me and I in turn wanted to capture them in such a way that really told their story. This beautiful creature below was injured by stepping on a land mine. Spending the day at the park was one of the best experiences of my life.
Shot on my Nikon Coolpix P900
35.7mm, f4.5, 1/80 sec
Sweet baby. Nice focus and clarity. I’d like to know what he’s thinking. I like the black background with the elephants face highlighted.
Thank You Jeff! She is sweet. Her story is sad but she is a good home now.
WOW Amber! The texture and tonal range in his skin, against that black background are awesome. LOVE this!
Ahhhh thank you Keri! It makes me sad too but know that she has a beautiful home surrounded by elephant and human friends alike.
Yep, us humans are capable of search bad things and at the same time we are capable of such good things too. I hate to see animals hurt. Maybe it’s my upbringing in Africa? Brent
Great shot Amber. The black background bring out the texture of the elephant’s skin. Nice one for framing Well done !
Thank You Romy! I thought the black background really lent to the power of this image. My cousin actually purchased a print from me and had it framed. It looks stunning!
Amber, nice picture. Great texture on the skin. Good composition. Well done.
Thank You Christian! I was fascinated by these creatures. I have a whole series.
Lovely portrait. Caught the texture of her skin and her expression. Tells a story
Thank You Lynne! That was what I intended so I am happy you can see it too!
What a portrait Amber! Great textures and separation from background
Thank You Erez!
Really nice image Amber. I love the black background the contrast & the textures.
Thank You Jim!
Amber, you caught it!! He is beautiful, yet you see the pain. Great textures.
Thank You Pamela! I must’ve done something right since you are able to see what I was able to see.
Nice Amber. I think I might try an elephant I have in my catalogue because this looks beautiful.
Thank you Keri! Go for it! I have a whole series like this. I was enamored by them.
I love his lines! Very nice B&W!
Thank You Sheree!
Wow Amber, how did you get such a dark background on this wild elephant? Looks like you photographed it in a studio – with the side lighting. Very professionally done – love the textures in that elephant skin with that side light. Your image is super sharp too. Brilliant! Brent
Hey Brent, Thank you so much for your kind words! I painted the background black in PS. It was a lot of work but well worth it! It was a really beautiful day to photograph.
For sure
Awesome! Such detail!
Thank You Sara!
Well done, Amber! The light on the elephant’s skin is beautiful. My daughter was at the same park a few weeks ago and said it was an amazing experience.
Thank you Judy! I’m so happy your daughter had such a wonderful time as well!
Amber, great shot, light balance and texture throughout. Well done.
Thank You Denis!
from Sydney harbor. Iwillbe away next week ,so here is my next entry. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/54cd195a180da65d1befef68e688ff604343545d162593f296657d6cc8a9960c.jpg
Really nice architectural perspective Image.
Nice shot!
Got to love this structure and the different images you can get. The lines in this image is what makes it great – But I think you could have left a little more space above and on the sides of the roof. Well done. Brent
Great angle, different from what I am used to seeing.
Norm this is a great view of that iconic building. Love the lines and angles. Well done.
Here’s my first submission for this challenge. It’s my favorite acoustic guitar. I love the Koa top with the multiple colors and the wonderful wood grain. Settings are ISO 400, 40mm macro lens at F14 for 1/80 sec. On tripod with off camera, hand held flash at 1/3 power. I shot it lying on it’s back and then turned it in post for dramatic effect.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/01a8f9bc22e524c645c9ffb7d403e233795f79f327fe650f1c84f3f732cce194.jpg
Such a creative angle for this shot, Jim. The shadows of the strings look really great. Nice work!
Jim, this picture has a great dramatic effect. Love those lines in the wood and the shadows. Well done.
Nice lines and perspective. Great image
Wonderful creative image, taking a simple known object to something new.
Great image Jim!
Wowsers Jim. This is a great shot.
Very cool!!! Love the textures in the guitar.
What a cool composition! I love how that grain pops! I keep wanting to adjust the line of the guitar so it runs parallel with the edge of the frame. That could just be my OCD but I think it would give the image just a smidgen more intention.
Well done Jim for entering this challenge. Maybe it’s just a coincidence but right now I’m at my daughter’s guitar lessons sitting on my laptop giving you feedback on your guitar image – life is funny sometimes. What pulls me into this image are those lines from the strings. I’m just wanting to see where they go to, so my suggestion is to have those leading lines flow into your image but I know it’s not easy with a macro lens. I also like the textures from the wood grain and that dark hole in the middle. What would you say is the main point of interest in your image, if you had to choose a single thing? Well done. Brent
Very cool image Jim. I can see a whole series on this guitar, different angles, lighting.
Jim, I really like the perspective you have used for this shot. The grain in the wood is so pretty, and I think the contrast from the black sound hole works really well with the rest of the image.
Jim, Great shot. For me it is the simplicity of the shot, the clarity of the wood textures against the strings and frets. Well done.
Nice photo Jim. This looks like it could be the cover for guitar lessons, or an album cover. I like the lighter and darker lines. Well done.
Some succulents in my back garden. I really like the symmetry and repeating pattern of the leaves.
1/60 f6.3 ISO 100 @100mm 55-250mm kit lens
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0e37ed5c8ea45c7bf1ab96608704e07b3dd9c515038983e29a3d21d2af09bdb2.jpg
Very nice composition Kerrie. Did you add the wood for added texture ? Good idea.
Thanks, but no….I’m not quite that organised! The wood is the garden edging, old redgum railway sleepers. It’s been there for over 20 years 🙂
Kerrie, nice repeating pattern in a leading line. Good contrast between the plant and the wood.
Thanks Christian.
Good catch, now that you mention it I see the repeating pattern too. Brent
Hi Kerrie ,
good contrast & dare I say color or tonal difference between the timber & the succulents ,nice one
Thank you, Peter
Beautiful image. Love the textures, lines, and geometry.
Thanks, Zoya
SO nice – the succulents patterns vs. the wood texture and darker tones. Love it Kerrie
Thanks so much, Erez.
Nice Kerrie. I love the textures
Thank you, Jim.
Kerrie, I really like the contrast and texture with the wood.
Thanks, Pamela.
Well Done Kerrie. I love how clear and crisp the succulents are.
Thanks, Keri.
I love this, Kerrie!!! The waterdrops on the petals and the texture on the wood. Very nice shot!
Thanks so much, Sheree.
Great shot Kerrie!! I’m not sure how you did it but those petals (or whatever they are called on succulents) look so delicate and soft.
Thanks, Gary. I tried photographing these in both hard and soft light, and found the result more pleasing in soft light.
If there is anything I am drawn to it is repetition in patterns! So cool! Love this image!
Thanks so much, Amber! I am also drawn to repetition, especially in nature.
The first thing I noticed about this image is the beautiful lighter tones in your flowers, and then the texture of the wood. This is a lovely shot and I keep looking at it – My eye eventually settles on the flower/succulent on the left. One suggestion is to give the left flour more space on the left, more “breathing room”. Brent
Thanks so much for the feedback, Brent. I agree about the breathing space. I took this one this morning. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/114909be132955b5b67966e0356bb1076628a7df53a7c2de736604a32e94ee42.jpg
Wow, yes perfect!!!
I like this version! The contrast between the wood and flowers is great. Love it.
Kerrie. This is the one for me. Well done. Lovely textures here. Well composed and taken.
Wow Kerrie, this one really pops. Really sharp and nice DoF. Love the water droplets in the petals.
Thanks Rachel!
Lovely. My sheep ate my succulents like this! I like the way they look almost luminous.
Thanks so much, Tessa.
Beautiful! Very well done.
Thanks so much Sarah.
I used to have some of these in my garden, and I have to say your B&W version makes this plant look much better than I remember them 🙂
What I really like is the way the tips catch the light and provide lovely contrast to the rest of the plant. Further, the shape of the plants contrast beautifully with the rough texture of the wood. Terrific photo, Kerrie.
Thanks so much for the feedback, Judy.
This is my second submission for this challenge. This is Prambanan temple in Indonesia, another UNESCO heritage site. The photo was take in mid day right outside the barbed wire fence and used the barbed wire for framing. Basic LR adjustments then converted to BW in LR, then used a simulated infrared filter preset. ISO100 , 24mm. f9, 1/250s . https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7fa1c54c9d4f7150b72d63308b67280dcbd3cc08f5ab1a9a9e7eec0c74887237.jpg
Romy, good idea with your framing. Great detail in the structure of those buildings. Well done.
Thanks so much Christian.
Love the detail in this temple, and the moody sky. The barbed wire framing adds an interesting effect, and a great solution to going in tighter. I’m not convinced about the infrared filter preset and the foreground. It makes your subject pop, but it looks a little blown out to me.. but that is your artistic licence. Nice image Romy.
Thank you so much Kerrie. I guess sometimes I get carried away when I play around with presets. Below is the normal BW conversion in Lightroom after basic adjustments. The foreground is green grass which when converted to BW becomes dark gray that somehow blends with the temples. In order to make the temples pop, I moved the green channel to the right to make the foreground a bit lighter. I prefer the sky in the the first version though. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7474177eef2042c52fceed9722d4ccbfccafd01ea86f7734b396fd006f867023.jpg Thanks again.
Romey, Nice work -though I wonder if moving the yellow slider as well as the green would brighten up the grassed area a bit? After all that, I probably prefer the first version 🙂 I think it has more punch.
After comparing the two versions I also thought of moving the sliders a bit more to the right. I will post the improved version later. Thanks so much Kerrie.
This version has less ghosting—-but like you, I prefer the sky in the other! 🙂
I love the barbed wire….. the story is written in a different way!
Thanks for your comments Sheree. I really appreciate all the comments as they help me improve my photo editing technique. Thanks.
Very interesting image! I love the architecture. I agree that the sky in the first image is more powerful. I’d try just adjusting your highlight and shadow sliders to see what that does. Possibly a graduated filter on the sky. LR has so much depth, I too am just learning about all the great things it can do. Well done!
Many thanks Amber. I will see what more improvements can be done in LR. Thanks.
Both versions are very good, but I think that I prefer the second one. The barbed wire framing is sort of a twist in the story, making it more interesting – great image
Thanks so much Erez. I was fortunate to have the presence of mind to use the barbed wire in framing the temples. I would call it luck. Thanks again..
Really great image.
Thank you Jim.
I really like the texture and contrast with the sky and barbed wire. Great picture!
Hi Pamela. Thank you so much.
Great shot
Many thanks, Andrew.
This is amazing. I feel like I am looking at a painting not a photo. Awesome!!!
Thanks a lot Keri.
I love the detail in the temples—… wonder if overdone a little bit with the post as the barbed wire and temple appear to have a bit of ghosting? The sky is really interesting — the people blend in with the architecture! Great eye…..
Thanks so much Sheree. I am still finding out what caused the ghosting. I will recheck my settings and lens profile.
Very nice picture. I like the way you framed the temples with the barb wire. the sky is very dramatic as well
Many thanks, Juan.
Very interesting frame in the shot – using of barbed wire, reminds me of the concentration camp images. Lovely texture in those temples, And your sky looks quite dramatic. Something to be careful love is the halo effect you are getting on the top edges of the temples. Brent
Thanks so much Brent. I posted above the corrected version, pls take a look.
Thank you again.
OK will do. Brent
This is it Friends. After playing with the sliders (and calling the Ghostbusters, haha) the ghost is gone (hopefully for good).
The yellow and green sliders were almost at maximum to render the foreground lighter and provide contrast to the temples. The temples are darker but the people exiting the temples are more discernible. Thanks for all the comments. They’re really helpful.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c2179539eb5ffc6b635fb1dfee7d0bc9abbff437a19c8efd66358cd5a923f01b.jpg
Great composition! Love the detail.
I like what you did with the green slider to make that foreground lighter, and the sky is very strong compared with the normal B&W conversion version you posted below in response to Kerrie. I also prefer the look of the temples in this version as they look more natural to me. I tend to play with every slider, and check out some presets, too. I think it is fun to check out the results and explore different processing techniques & get new processing ideas.
Lovely image. I like the framing of it. Well done.
Wow, this is beautiful. The composition looking through the barbed wire really works for me. It gives you the impression that it is indeed a protected site. I love all the shadows and textures. . A great example of a black and white photo.
Here is a B&W photo of the docks at Echuca on the NSW/Victoria border.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e82499a17afcfb93bac1a0d0aaa36444819d20044beddea92a82c4e8a447a50c.jpg
Peter, nice picture with the leading lines in that structure. Perhaps a little crop on the right side for a piece of your thumb (?). What are your settings?
Peter. Lovely composition and well taken. Great lines and angles. Well done.
Thank you Denis
Very nice Peter. I like the lines going away from the viewer. Nice clarity.
Thanks so much Jeff
Thumb print removed! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8af3a34d58119085486ff67c01e7b59c12397212a904ac539e007f2f0643c0b9.jpg
Hi Peter. Nice photo and composition.
Hi Peter – post updates to your photo’s in same thread as original image – so reply to your original post and then post this image there. That way all comments and updates to images are in one place. Thanks, Brent
Sorry Brent my first post as it has taken this long to sort out the upload problem ,My desktop is win7 with google chrome ,I bought a laptop win 10 with Microsoft edge Problem solved ,also will my membership roll over to the paid plan after my 2 mth deal ,Peter
Glad you solved the problem – yes membership will automatically roll over, nothing you need to do. Brent
Nice! Great detail, contrast & subject matter.
Thank you Jim
thank you kindly
Love all the interesting things in this shot…..textures from the water and the beams…. Very nice.
thanks for the feedback
Interesting picture Peter. Would you be able to crop so It would not look as busy? what are you considering the subject of the picture? the boats or the house on the Dock?
Its part of our past The mighty Murry River which was the life blood of most towns built along it,the boats which carried the goods to the storage sheds & to see how much lower the water is now ,I guess its the package.
I really like this subject! I love how the dock leads your eye to to the boats in the back left corner! Well done!
Wow Peter, love all the lines in this image. I like the way you have composed this image with the river and the sky taking up a third of the shot each. Something you can try is to bring down the luminosity of the sky and little more to balance it against the river. Brent
Thank you Brent its nice now to be able to upload some images to share & join in
Awesome Job. Would like to see it a bit darker to add a little bit of drama.
Thank you for your comments
Version 2 ,I have had a little play with the shadows to change the perspective ,hope you like it https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/71103604644c36a4081f70cca85fefc59f3fad899de4fdf057f9a9fb28b99343.jpg
I love the lines, contrast and clarity. Nicely composed. Well done.
Thank you so much
Ok here goes. First submission in my first challenge.
This Photo was taken near Fort Augusta on Loch Ness Scotland.
Shot in Colour and converted to B&W in Lightroom.
18-55 Lens at 24mm. ISO200, F9.5, 1/350sec.
I have always loved boats. This scene with the beautiful reflections just appealed to me.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cf00c52e5c570c8c78359a5c881b526332234c9d68b9e28c06080c20a28e737c.jpg
Beautiful photo Andrew. Very nice reflections.
Andrew, beautiful boats. Nice reflections.
Great shot & great first submission. I love everything about this image.
Looks great, very peaceful
Well done Andrew. This is really tranquil for me.
A great story in this shot….love the old boats with the newer usable ones besides. Great use of B&W!
Very nice picture Andrew. Did you try playing with the white and black points slider to see how it would look?
What a lovely image! I wonder if you played with your contrast a bit if that would add more dimension to your image, especially in the trees. Otherwise great first submission!
Congrats on your first challenge image Andrew. I am a big fan of boats too. The thing that attracts me to this image is that lighter boat and the reflection in the foreground, and then my eye shifts further back and I noticed the old wreck and then the mountains in the background. Your image is rich with detail. Well done. Brent
Thanks for all the reviews. Here is a second version where I have adjusted contrast to bring out the whites of the Birch trees and the white boat. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f00ff7c2f27cf6808a0ffd66bc8c1a1815269f84a4ed5e49703fa2b3f1a5bcf5.jpg
Lovely shot. I think I prefer the first one though. Any sign of Nessie?
Thanks Tessa. Nessie didn’t show unfortunately. The back story to this was that my Brother, Nephew an myself were on a ‘boys’ trip. Nephew shot his mouth off about having a swim in Loch Ness. We held him to it despite it being mid winter.
I like the darker version better. It highlights the trees and the boats, the lovely reflection off the water. Well done.
Andrew, You have two good shots here. I think I prefer the darker version. It is a bit more moody and gives a sense of danger in the trees.
Well done Andrew. I really like the bottom photo as well, it tells more of the story. I like the contrasting colors.
Yes, this is a great adjustment. Well done. The boat in the foreground really stands out now, and the shadows and much better.
Very dramatic – the (evening?) light is just lovely!
I actually like this one better than the darker image. In my opinion, the details are much better and there is more to see leading you into the image.
Wonderful image – so interesting and full of details!
I think that the second version helps to focus on the boats, and the boats and reflections are much better. On the other hand, I still would like to see more details in the forest and mountains.
Andrew, great shot. B/W really works for me here. Good composition and well taken. Well done.
I love the rippled reflections and the old boat in the background. It looks so peaceful. Nicely composed.
Sorry for the double up but finally I have been able to upload from another computer.Sony SLT-A33 ,30mm ,iso100 ,f4.5 ,auto WB https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bdea2f61372ea76b152ec4f841d64b780be728782790d690163066e41a970fbc.jpg
Nice shot Peter. Lots of shapes in the shot. I think the highlights are a little too bright and I would tone them down a little. Otherwise great shot.
thank you for feed back & thoughts David
This is great shot Peter. Nice contrast against the dark background.
Thank you REVillanueva
Great shot. I wonder if a tweak of the black’s slider or the shadows slider might bring a little more detail and texture out of the water.
Modified version ,Darkened a little with contrast & also shadows. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0c614950ce5a85defaa86dfbda11124ac108f875643316255dd9d1ae256809ea.jpg
I love the lines of the roofs here. I find the water is a bit dark….so may have pulled back on that a bit for some texture there…. but all in all a lovely B&W
thanks so much for your thoughts
Peter I like the modified version
Me too!
thank you Juan
Peter, it has a special look. It’s almost like a scale model.
Thank you for your kind words Christian
Prefer this version Peter with ocean. Great lines by railing and really like the contrast between white and dark in your image. Also like the negative space at the top (the ocean). Brent
Thank you for you thoughts & feedback
I like this one better too. Great angle.
Thank you Sara
I like this one better as well! Nice job.
Thank you Vicki
Thank you for your thoughts
Love strong contrast in this image, I imagine this would have been difficult to expose. Well done.
Hi Peter – I really like the simplicity of the tones here with bright white vs the dark ocean.and the way the shape of the buildings etc stand out against the ocean.
thank you for your kind thoughts Judy ,shot in Santorini where everything is white & blue & the sun shine is endless ,a haven for Photography & Sunsets over the Caldera.
Peter, great lines and angles in this shot. Works very well. I like it.
Thanks so much Denis
Really good image. Love the subtle shades of grey in the buildings. Great sharp, detailed photo.
Thanks so much
thank you Rachel
Lovely black and white image. I like the lines and contrast. It would be great to photograph it at a different time of day to accentuate the shadows, but it looks very inviting.
Thank you for your kind thoughts
My first B/W. These wooden sculptures grace my backyard and are slowly aging. Made from old tree trunks by a local artist. Taken iso 100; F3.2; 1/80; 21mm. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d7fca6264becae4860294721e17f31e3e174714184f76213ad90d00f1f74964d.jpg
Lyanne, nice picture with those details in the wood. I think there is a little shelter above the sculpture. That limits a bit the space above and darkens it too. But I like the picture.
Lynne I love this shot. Tack sharp focus, great color, texture & contrast, not to mention really cool subject matter. I love the catch light in his eyes.
Lynne, Nice shot, the texture pops out. The eyes are great!!
I like this Lynne. Although you have timber on timber your model really pops. The more I look at it the more I feel it’s looking at me. Life in wood. who’d have thought.
I like it also. It really brings out the character.
Very cool B&W!!! Really like the use of the old wood against a newer wooden fence.
Nice.
Lynne, it is so amzing that you were able to show the different textures of the contrasting wood between subject and background. Well done
The eyes really pull me in. Great job.
I agree with others, this is a very cool image!
Terrific image, Lynne. Love the way the eyes have catchlights, and the textures highlighted by the B&W treatment.
Wonderful image – it almost looks alive. Great light too.
Lynne. What I like about this shot is its simplicity. Well composed and balanced throughout. Nice texture and lines. Well done.
Great image Lynne! This really works well in B&W.
So much texture, and I love the eyes. Great black and white shot. I wonder how it would look taken at a different time of the day.
My second image for this challenge, early morning lone surfer at local beach.
ISO800, fl135, f5.6, 1/125sec.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c6371e716217442481beb114e01dbff5f94691ea9043b9db06078b5e278fb452.jpg
I like it – nice and dark and moody – though I’m sure it’ll be suggested you bring out the shadows a bit
can you play with the colours to bring out the surfer – he’s blending in a bit
and I think your horizon is skewed a bit
Tanks Nick,have a look at new version.
Thanks Nick
John:
I love the contrast and different textures and the subject matter of the lone surfer and the ocean. Those clouds look pretty interesting too. The image however seems a bit dark and under exposed, and maybe would be better if you brighten it up a bit. However, before you do that you might want to play with the shadows slider in Lightroom and see if you can bring some more detail out of the shadows.
Thanks Jim, have a look at updated version, see what you think.
Thanks Jim, have a look at updated version, see what you think
Thanks Jim, I will try that
I like the contrasts in the waves.
Thankyou Pamela
great capture with the shadows of the waves it gives the look of 3 level contrast (step like appearance)maybe a little dark
Thanks Peter
Love the waves and the splash of the water on the left. Perhaps a little too dark as the surfer sort of disappears…. Also, might try to straighten the horizon a bit—but lovely clouds, and surf!
Thanks Sheree, the amount of light/dark is subjective, I felt it was the right shade, however I have lighten a bit,
what do you think.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b17d32952f5f83592ac65d2f851fdf6402bfc03edd13f1cb8627088277b1093f.jpg
I like this lighter version. Lovely shot.
Yes I agree, thanks Tessa
Really like this edit John. Great capture!!
Thanks Gary
Absolutely like this version better. You can also see a soft glow on the left side of the surfer…. The horizon is a little off centre…so would play with that and also bring up the whites a bit….. Really love this shot and you are doing a great job with the edits.
Thanks Sheree, I will try that
Much nicer now with detail
Thanks Peter
Like this one too. Brings out the detail.
thankyou Sara
This one is awesome! I love all the wave action and textures. The first one has more of a dark moody feeling, but I like this one better. It has a lonely feeling to it instead of dark and moody. I don’t really think of surfers as being dark/moody. I think alone/lonely might fit much better.
Yes I tend to agree with you, thanks
Hi John, I personally like the lighter version it brings out more of the details in your photo and silhouettes the surfer. Very good photo!
Thankyou Valerie
John. Yes I like the adjustment to the foreground. I might go back and darken the cloud base a bit. Gives a moody feel to the shot.
Thanks Denis, i’ll give it a go
Thanks dennis
Great shot, I wish I was there too. Nice use of shades of blacks and whites. I like the grey clouds above the surfer.
Thankyou Jeff
A lot more detail in this version. I’m being picky here, but I think that if the surfer is the POI, cropping some off the left would make him stand out more. That way, he has less competition with the waves. ( That big crashing one. )
Thanks Rachel
This is an interesting situation photo! I like the second version much better than the first. The silhouette of the surfer is great!
thanks Sig
very nice John. This definitively adds a mysterious mood to the picture. waiting for the shark to appear.
thank you
Thanks Juan, he is braver than me.
Great moody shot John…i get a sense of foreboding looking at this
Lovely job! Moody without being overbearing. Agree about the horizon though, looks lower on the right.
Love the layers of light in this image that B&W captures so well contrasting with the silhouette of the surfer. Really nice image, John.
John, this is a lovely capture. I like the different light shades. The lines and shapes are great. Well done.
Great black and white photo. Definitely looks early morning, or it could be evening as well. It makes me want to jump in the ocean. I like the clouds also, it adds to the mood. It looks stormy. Well done.
Thanks David
So I took this on the weekend. This is a bright red geranium. 1/320, f5.6, iso 125 @ 126mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/affab19bb492a8298f65a247691d5171c9cf2406d6c1c1561f9aaa47225e5b35.jpg
Very nice, Keri….I also tried a few flowers with macro…but nothing came out as nice as this! 🙂
Love the water running down.
So cool Keri! They almost look like they are made of wax (and they are melting)! I love the composition as well. Fantastic!
Keri, nice picture with much detail with those waterdrops. Good composition.
Nice shot, with good separation from the background….i personally find it difficult to portray a bright red flower in B&W…well done!
Rerro that means alot. Thankyou!
Really cool! Love the water droplets on the petals, great DOF. Well done!
Keri a lovely shot. Nice textures and lines. Love the droplets. Well done.
Keri. Well done. Even tho this photo is in black and white, I can visualize the vibrant colors that are coming off of this flower. Nice clarity on the flower, and the blurring the background.
I have to admit it challenged me a bit Jeff.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/93f5a74d2263167fca30a7e531ac8942dfa6a044b4c687853a9b983d82654d1a.jpg
Along the oregon coast. 1/250 F/8.0 18mm ISO 100
I love waves, Doris!…. Great capture—-did you have some lens distortion? The horizon is curved a bit. I would also see if you could lighten the foreground a little and bring up the wave.
Shot at the right instant!
Great shot! I would consider lightening the rocks up a bit. It looks just a bit muddy but with some highlights can add some great depth to the image.
Doris, interesting picture with the rocks on the foreground and the breaking waves on them.
Nice seascape Doris. The image feels flat though, perhaps try and bring some detail out of the shadows in the rock formation.
The wave bursting up into spray looks great for contrast ,maybe lighten the rocks in the foreground a little for some detail otherwise nice capture
Lovely wave action. I agree it does seem a bit flat.
If you click on it and look at it in full view, it has some really great different tones and textures between the grass, the rocks, the waves and water, and the sky. I really like it!
Great capture Doris! Great textures and action
Doris. Great wave action here and well taken. Well done.
Great photo, and nice wave capture. It looks like there is a storm about to happen there. Well done Doris.
A couple of days ago I went to my very first Demolition Derby. I knew there would be a lot of crashing into each other and dirt flying around and that there would be a lot of contrast, so I decided to see how it would look shot in B&W. I called this one, Watch out for flying dirt and car pieces! 1/800 sec – f 5.6 – ISO 400. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b1e4fced825946aafaa09c394ae0e2a00c9784b74c9d3eb335ea744d55160d40.jpg
Vicki, it’s almost architectural. A lot of texture. Good composition.
Thank you very much for the kind words, Christian.
what a great action shot Vicki and lots of texture going on….I do think it may be better represented in colour? It feels like everything is the same shade. but this is my opinion..great capture!
Thank you Rerro.
l love the textures in this photo Vicki, and the mud flying out from the wheel adds that something extra.
Thanks Janet. I had to dodge that flying mud a couple of times. It looks cool flying through the air, but it stings when it hits you.
Oh wow! Great contrast and texture.
Thanks Tessa.
Great capture. Hard to believe there were people in them!
Thank you Sheree. There were actually passengers in a couple of the cars, including a woman who won a raffle to get to ride in a car. One driver suffered an injury to his arm within the first minute, but fortunately there weren’t anymore after that.
Great job! Love the flying mud and detail.
Thanks Sara!
B&W does a great job of showing up the rough, banged up vehicles. What fun 🙂
Thank you, Judy. It was fun. Already going to another Demolition Derby later this month.
Great image – love all the details and motion of the mud. B&W is really great for such an image
Thanks Erez. I love the mud as well.
Vicki, great capture. You can feel the motion and force.
Thanks Denis.
Great action shot Vicki!
Thank you, Rachel.
Great photo Vicki. Love the action shot and the clarity of the photo. This is a cool black and white photo.
Thanks Jeff.
I captured this image today in B & W https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2f14ee9173ae0aeb3e365886e0e22dd8bde66699295c9ed734e07704a1074eaf.jpg while walking through the Botanic Gardens in Brisbane. l like the contrast between the trees and the buildings and that within the trees. The sky is also interesting. ISO 100, 1/125, f11, 11.69mm.
Great image. I love the tree framing and reflections in the building in the foreground.
Janet, this is a great landscape image. There is interaction of the nature with those buildings standing there sky high. The sky itself has a lot of structure with those clouds reflected in the first building. It looks as if we have here a see-thruogh in the scenery. Great composition. Well done.
Really love this landscape, and the story!
nice scene & contrast is good ,in B&W it looks like one of those deserted cities you see in the movies
Lovely composition, the framing is quote nice.
Love the composition with the trees framing the buildings. The different contrasts and textures are great. The first building almost looks like a mosaic. Very nice!
So many great elements here, Janet. Contrasts definitely make this work very well. Beautiful sky. If you had a circular polariser, you might have been able to darken that sky for more contrast.
Thanks Judy. I don’t own a circular polariser and have never used a polariser before, so something for me to learn I think.
Another option is to adjust the blue colour in post processing where you can reduce the luminance of the blues. You can’t push it too far, though, or it starts to look weird. BTW, I lived in Brisbane about 20 years ago. I don’t recognize most of those buildings! So much has changed.
That’s what I did. It is currently at -98 (lightroom). Have you any other suggestions?
No, that all I had to offer in my bag of tricks 🙂
Janet, great shot and it works well in B/W. Well done.
Wonderful detail in this whole image. Did you use a CPL filter? Excellent detail in the clouds.
Thanks Rachel. No I didn’t use any filter. I used my Sony Cybershot RX 100 III with the built in lens.
There is a whole lot going on in this photo, and it works really well together. Well done Janet. I enjoyed the clouds.
I took this photo at the Namibian coast in colour and convert it to black and white in Lightroom.
Settings:1/1000
f8
ISO400 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4f3ec68e8752bee36cb3bcb5b7fae942ba95acc50f02801f6d6da2636ef1389f.jpg
Nice black and white.
Nice shot ,clean & sharp ,good contrast .
Mari, this a great picture. His has a story with the broken boat near the water. A lot of texture. Great contrast between the boat and the sand and water. Well done.
Mari, a great story to tell with this shot. It might have been an idea to zoom out so that you picture the boat being isolated in a wilderness. My personal choice. There is so much detail in the shot, full of differing shapes and sizes. Brilliant job.
Mari well done. What a story this boat could tell.
I love this image. Great textures and details. My only suggestion would be to try to darken the water just slightly to define and separate it a little more from the sky and the sand. It appears to me that the horizon may be going very slightly downhill to the left, but that might just be how my monitor is displaying it. Great job!
What a fabulous subject for a B&W image, Mari. The textures and shadows are very neat. I’m agree with @disqus_8VjGhpbQJo:disqus that more breathing room around the boat would highlight its isolation and wrecked state.
Wonderful image Mari, great subject and textures. Love it
Mari, well composed and taken. Well done.
Love this shot and the subject matter. Great detail.
What a great shot. There is sharpness, textures and lines which really let you know how old this boat is. My only suggest might be to give a little more room on the right and left. Great job!
A lovely black and white image that really tells a story. I love the clarity, shadows, composition and detail. Well done Mari.
Mari, I agree with Jarrod about the stories this old boat can tell. Great use of lines on the boat and still have the water in the background.
What a great find! Love those textures and shapes in this ship wreck. This subject converts to a great B/W image separating the ship from the sand. Well done. Brent
One I took last year. Must have been in a B/W mode as I found a few of these on my HDD. 🙂 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7b4647ca9346adfef3158faa34e36c3a4458f9ac05f2e62247726b2ba497e99e.jpg
Really like the contrast, Gary. Nice shot!
Thanks Sheree. It was all but B/W from the get go. Just had to get rid of some rust and a slight orange/yellow on the barn boards.
Gary, there is a lot of detail in your picture. Beautiful contrast.
Thanks Christian.
Gary, interesting subject matter that looks good in B&W. Just being a little picky it would have been nice to even up the chain link on both sides. Photo is tack sharp with great contrast. Great job.
Thanks David. I will have a look at that.There may have been a reason (thinking lock on thirds or something funky on that right side)) as I am usually a little OCD on eveness when things are centered 🙂
Your not an accountant by any chance Gary? 🙂 I am. I get the OCD thing re evenness and balance Very effective use of B&W in this image. The contrast in the lock vs fence vs background gives the image depth in my opinion.
Thanks Judy. No not an accountant but my sister is. 🙂
Here you go David. It looks like I was trying to maximize the size. The picture was crooked and I just straightened the photo without moving in the edges. lol I must be obsessed with this gate. I found some other photos of it while I was looking for this one.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eacfb88989cfcb4758ff43e9e47a3f473db50c80adaa25a8b2a5d717566acb26.jpg
Gary you have taken a mundane object and created some interest with it. Very sharp, and for me just the right amount of contrast.
Thanks Sara!!! HEY!!!… waddaya mean mundane.. that is a very critical lock. lol 🙂
Hehe!
So many good things going on in this image. Love the contrasts, love the textures and the blurred background is just enough to give it depth. The lightness of the background really helps the darker fence in the foreground stand out! Love it!
Thanks Vicki. Some days you get lucky. 🙂
Great composition Gary. Cool shot.
Thanks Keri.
Love the composition and the different patterns here. Great shot Gary
Thank you Erez.
Gar, I love the different shapes and lines in this shot. If this was colour it would be very distracting but in B/W it works very well.
Thanks Denis. It wasn’t too bad in colour as there wasn’t much. Mostly some rust on the chain and the building was a bit warmer. although I do agree it is better this way
I really like the texture and clarity in this photo. It leaves me with questions about who is locked in or out and why. Didn’t mean to get all philosophical, just wondering 😉 hehe.
Thanks Jarrod! I am happy it leaves your mind to wander and ponder. So I wont tell you what that lock is for. 😉
I thought I replied already so forgive me if this is duplicate. I seem to be struggling with this format. I’m glad that this shot has you wondering and pondering. I won’t tell you why it is locked so as to keep the mystery. 😉
Your shapes and lines is the image give it a “strong” feeling. Very good. My eye settles on the lock which has great texture too. Something to try next time is to zoom right in on the lock and use shallow depth of field to make it pop even more from the chain and fence. Brent
Thanks Brent. I am sure I will revisit this lock again and give it a go. I have found numerous photos of it on my HDD although I do not recall being there that often. lol
Early morning by dock..
D750 ISO 250 50mm F6.3 1.400sec.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cf6760001be6d189bb9e6190cdd70412321c7256d3da6245ef5a374fa13a5c4b.jpg
Cool shot Sheree!!
Thanks!
Sheree, this is a creative picture. Perhaps a bit more space left and right to give a light border. Well done.
Thanks Christian…. I commented on the borders……but I will have a play with the original…..
Sheree you have a good eye for a photo. I agree with Christian that then”borders” you have on the top and bottom of the photo should be replicated on the right and left. I.E just leave a white border. Good job.
Many thanks, David. Actually, there is no border on the instrument Here is the original. I could try to clone borders, but not sure my skills are good enough. Thanks for your very nice compliment!
Good job, I agree about the borders. Interesting subject.
Thanks, Sara.
Sheree, I really like this. If you get the chance to shoot this again, I would love to see what a photo would look like with one of the breakers on the left or right open. Very cool shot!
I am going to try, but I have a feeling the hinges are on springs and they cannot stay open! Wanted to get out earlier, but it has been pouring!
Nice use of B&W Sheree. It’s sharp, with nice textures and great contrast. Thinking outside the box!
Thanks!
Great “classic” B&W. Interesting and beautiful texture. Well done
Thank you Erez.
I love the photo. I laughed a little because I’m currently on a tour in Northern Minnesota and we have 2 vans connected by walkie-talkie. Our fearless leaders have been talking on them to keep connected and just for fun using some CB-radio talk. Yesterday, it was breaker, breaker several times. Nice reminder that I did have fun yesterday despite the hiking and the heat.
LOL, Karen.. I was actually going to title it “Breaker, breaker”—but was not sure anyone would understand! 🙂
thanks!
Sheree, lovely shapes and lines here. Well composed and taken.
Nice tight macro shot of the breakers. Its as if I can feel the textures and lines in the photo. The crop is great and the composition is nice. Good job.
Nice close up shot. I like the textures and shadows. Well done.
The entrance to Javea Port, Alicante, Spain. Took the shot on my IPhone using the “Provoke” app. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/558ebea1d80452e438c08c1c14971dc6edef4b404924a246dea0e54c8405df3f.jpg
David, good job. Check the horizon, the right side looks lower than the left. I like the sparkles on the water on the bottom of the photo. The sky seems blown out, were there any clouds?
David, I really like all the different stuff that is going on in this image showing the various ways the port is used & enjoyed. Given the sky is very flat, I would have weighted the image more to the water i.e. change perspective slightly in an effort to catch more of that sparkle in the bottom left.
David, I like the well balanced composition. The picture shows the vastness of the scenery.
Thank you Christian.
David, a nicely composed shot. Good balance throughout. Well done.
Thanks for the positive comments Denis.
Nice work. The sparkles and slight waves in the water draw the viewer to the boat. I agree with Sara that the horizon needs to be straighten out, otherwise nice photo.
Very nice contrast. It looks busy but peaceful. Well done.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7e46002bac547dbabcccd79fde8cf48b5e7d1f408ed05a605e3b0b41f5d2109e.jpg
So, while my husband was cleaning out the gutters and wanting to keep an eye in him. I had gone to check the mail, cutting across the yard and walking next to the front grove, I happened to see this guy hanging out at the bottom of the tree. ISO 800, 100mm, f5.6, and 1/160. It was taken in monochrome and tweaked in Affinity Photo.
Hi Sara – I like how the B&W treatment highlights the textural differences between the fungus and the bark and ground. Perhaps you could bring a little more contrast out in the darker spots on the fungus by reducing the shadows just on that area, but I like it as it is, too. There is a nice play of light on the edges of the fungus, too.
I tried another photo which I feel has a bit more contrast than the first. Thank you for your comments.
Sara, I like the contrast of the fungus and the tree. Nice texture too.
Thank you. Along with trees, I like taking photos of mushrooms.
Great textures and love the way this mushroom stands out from the background. How can you improve this? I think the use of a tripod and a more closed aperture like f/16 would give you a broader depth of field to make sure the whole mushroom was sharp. Brent
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e2c3c3ef23956de2d474d0bf4c13e8ef9e951673436dbda6165fc82fc0d05693.jpg
After reading Brent’s comments, I went out today to see if I could replicate the shot with the f/16 aperture. I used a tripod, it is a bit breezy today. Here is what I came up with. ISO 800 110mm f/20 and 1/8. Not quite the same angle, I was trying to keep the leaves and branches out of the way.
I do prefer this version! 🙂 Very nice.
Thank you Sheree.
A bit more detail in this version. Nice work.
Rachel, Thank you.
Ah, again if I had just scrolled down. I see that you have already added some to the bottom. In my opinion you might have left a little more on the right though. Great work!
Beautiful textures and contrast Sara and the mushroom stands out nicely
Thank you Erez!
Sara. great shot. Like the textures of the mushroom . Well done.
Thanks Denis. Welcome back
Great textures, Sara— love the contrasts.
Great job on this picture. Great textures and composition. My only suggestion would be to give the mushroom a little more room on the bottom. You can add this on probably using photoshop.
I’m enjoying the different thought process involved in capturing a B&W image. The minute detail in the petals of this clematis flower caught my eye and I set out to highlight that aspect using B&W. I backlit the flower using a light box to bring out the tiny veins. I then inverted the colour using Photoshop to make the background black and desaturated the flower using a B&W adjustment layer. I also made small clarity and curves adjustments to bump the contrast. Settings: 0.3s at 100mm, f/9, ISO 100. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/990f2b8a386e04ef7b20e3f5320bef6f4edcbe9e992194c0ee178d84d227af58.jpg
Really clever shot Judy. I love the idea of inverting. Would never have thought of that. Looks awesome. So intense yet delicate at the same time.
Thanks Keri!
Judy, I love the sharpness of the petals of the flowers. Nature’s striations of the veins of the petals are so amazing. Each one is unique. This would look great printed on metal.
The detail of veins blew me away, too. Great idea to print it on metal. I haven’t tried that yet with any of my images.
This is brilliant Judy…..a fine art image! Just fantastic….love it! Very creative post processing too, Well done
Thanks so much, Christine. I finally feel like I’m developing as an artist. Makes me very happy.
I have the same feelings….i am getting direction and beginning to focus on what my passions are.
Judy, very good job. Amazinig how you got this result. Was this with a macro objective? Well done.
Hi Christian – yes, I would say I had a macro objective. That is currently my favourite type of photography, and I did use my macro lens to take the image. I truly love the fine detail in plants that we don’t see unless we get nice and close.
Your process for photographing and then post processing this image has really shone through here – it’s stunning! A true work of art. Love the details of the veins in the pedals, And the way your flower pops from that dark background. If I were you I would print this large and hang it with pride somewhere public (or private). Well done – I’m impressed! Brent
Thanks Brent! I’m stoked with this image, and it is definitely being printed.
OH WOW Judy! This is just superb. The petals are so beautiful, they remind me of delicate insect wings. Thank you for sharing your process with us.
I’m glad you like it, Kerrie. The inversion treatment is a little off the wall, but I really like the way it made those details in the petals pop.
Amazing image Judy – great details. Just love anything about it. Thanks for sharing your creative process.
Thank you so much for your comments, Erez. I’m glad you like it.
Very cool Judy, so different than the standard lightbox images. Such a fantastic treatment. Did you build your own?
Hi Gary – I’m glad you like it 🙂
I did not build my own light box. I have a light box that I use for tracing patterns and drawings that I found online via Amazon. It’s quite big (A2) so I’m planning on doing some large bouquets. Not sure how that will go, but I won’t know until I try.
Wow. I love it.
Thanks Karen 🙂
Stunning! No other comments needed.
🙂 Thank you, Valerie.
Judy a magical shot and production. I can say no more than that, except Print and frame and go the top of the class.
Thanks Denis 🙂 I’m definitely printing this one & I’m very happy with it.
Really like this in B/W. Texture and focus beautiful
Thank you, Lynne. My daughter was laughing at me as I sat on the floor trying to get the petals to lie flat on the light box and saying “Mum, you are having too much fun”. She was right.
Indeed. Let’s keep it that way
Lovely. I was successful with my clematis this year, so excited about that. I will have to try this. You have done an awesome job with the lighting, texture, detail, everything. This is something I would hang in my house. Spectacular!
I harvested the flowers from my sister’s garden. She was so happy with how fabulous her vines were this year that this project was partly to give her a memory of her garden. Thanks for your kind comments, Sara. Please do try it. It isn’t too hard, and I believe you can do the colour inversion using Lightroom by flipping the Curves line so that it starts top left for the darks and move down to the bottom right for the light tones.
Wow this is just awesome. This is a masterpiece and you did an excellent job both photographing it and post processing. Just excellent!
Thank you Barbara. I’m really happy with the results.
Love the detail in the petals of this flower, and it is great with the dark contrasting background. Well done!
Thank you Janet 🙂
Holy cow! This is amazing! Very cool art!
Love your reaction, Sheree 🙂 Thanks!
This is so delicate and beautiful! I can see this being sold as fine art being displayed in someone’s home or office. Outstanding!
Thanks, Deby. I do hope to sell something…someday. Maybe this will be the ‘something’ 🙂
Wow! Now this is a work of art. You could sell this image. Absolutely beautiful!
Gee, thanks Rachel. I’m starting to feel more like an artist with this image, and I would like to build a solid portfolio that I could market.
Amazing detail. Thank you for the insight as to how you produced the image.
You are most welcome, Michael. I didn’t mention above that I used a tripod. That really helps get the detail nice and sharp. It’s been a fun creative experience.
This is a beautiful image. I love the exposure you have chosen and it makes it a great black and white image. I really like this. It’s truly amazing. Well done.
Thanks so much, Jarrod.
Well done Judy. Great use of lines and distinct color separation. I like this a lot.
Frying Pan Canyon Tree Petroglyph. My passion project is to document and share the rock art (petroglyphs) of the vanished Jornada Mogollon people of the American Southwest. These people lived and flourished in the area between 800 and 1200 BCE, and then vanished, leaving only fragments of pottery and a rich treasure of art. These images were painstakingly pecked into the dark outer layers of the rock, revealing the lighter rock underneath, a process that often took weeks of effort using only stone tools.
In my area, most of the sites for this art are located on uncontrolled public land — no signs, fences, or anything else, and is subject to vandalism and “collectors” who are willing to hack these images out of the rock. Photographers in the area no longer include geo-ref data for publicly-posted images to help prevent such vandalism and theft.
We can only guess at the meaning of these images — or even whether they were practical signposts, records of activities, spiritual images, or something else. It appears that these petroglyphs may have served all of these purposes, and they reveal to us a world that is much different than we see today.
This particular panel is high on a ridge in a place called “Frying Pan Canyon” in southern New Mexico.
f/8.0, 1/100 sec, 31 mm focal length, ISO 100, Nikon D3400 with kit lens.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/653f2fa74570e5949bf30aacfe1b70827011c46f6637033294ea1b3988d6980d.jpg
Hi Bill – I like the different zones for the shades of the different rocks and the way the bright petroglyph stands out. At first, I thought cropping the image down would help focus on the petroglyph, but I like the context the surroundings you have included in the frame. Thanks for the history lesson!
Great capture of the petroglyph Bill, my eye am went directly to you this rock art. I think a black and white image is a good choice for displaying this rock art, if this was a colour image my eye would have been distracted by the sky. Love the textures in the rock from the side light. Brent
Bill, just amazing history. Glad people try to preserve this. I first overlooked the petroglyph, but as Judy mentioned I agree it has more value with his rocky surroundings. Well done
Thanks for the information – never heard about it before. Beautiful image – love the rock texture and the art work pops
Bill, fantastic history of the place. I like the grasses in the bottom right hand corner as foreground interest. The petroglyph really jumps out at you so that is the POI really highlighted. You can break out the rocks into 3 places, the one on the right is well exposed, on the left it has some areas highlighted and the center it is underexposed. In Lightroom you could have increased the shadows or locally increased the exposure to lighten the central rocky area. Texture of the rocks look great and overall a great picture and great story.
Bill. Lovely shot and subject for B/W. Nice lines and shapes. Well taken. Well done.
Bill, thank you for the history as it brings more meaning to the photo. I really like the detail and the contrast between the shadowed rock and the sunny rock. Well done!
Wow what a picture and project. Thank you for taking the time to document this lost culture and art. This picture is perfect. Great shadows, details and lights. Awesome job!
Great shot! I like the added grasses in the front right.
Great contrast and detail in this photo. Love the picture and history.
Nice use of grays along with the B/W image.
ISO200, 1/200 f/5.6
A pile of ropes on a dock. Tried to emphasize rope details in post
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8a02196f6b3cea4c83e9e31a0750489b8c6d7018cdbe0df3335ce0b2834b0eff.jpg
Erez, I like your picture. If you want to set your POI on the rope I would darken a bit the bollard. Good composition. Personally the black ropes (at the top and underneath) are distraction me. Great picture with a lot of texture.
I’ll try to darken the bollard, even so I’m not sure that I agree with you. I feel that the main POI is the pile of ropes and the bollard is only a secondary one which I don’t want to eliminate. I’m afraid that the image will be boring without it. Will try anyway.
I’m really grateful for your feedback – it is interesting when someone challenges my assumptions and forces me to re-consider them, regardless if I’ll accept or reject the proposal after testing it
Erez, I only did a suggestion to reduce the brightness of the bollard, NOT to eliminate it. I hope I explain it clearly enough. Sometimes a conversation would be more clarifying then words.
Thanks again Christian. Here is the dark version bollard. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8ed82b12ae3787727181fffc7cf4d3120d23dabb00cd8c86726c33eb34f766e8.jpg
Erez, for me you got it. Great result. Well done.
Thanks for your feedback!
Erez, well done. I like the darkened bollard as it is more a part of the scene instead of competing with it.
Thank you Sara
I guess i should have kept scrolling. This one is perfect. Great work!
Thanks Barbara 🙂
I like this darker version. The shadows really add to the overall black and white image. Well done.
Thank you Jarrod
Hi Erez, I love this shot, did you use a vignette to draw the viewers eye to the centre of the ropes? If so it certainly worked.
Thanks David, and yes – I used vignette. Used it both to draw attention to the ropes and to remove distractions. This is the reason for the extreme vignette.
Erez. Very good shot and subject for B/W. I love the rope. Really shows up well.
Thank you Denis
Nice shot of the ropes. The detail is outstanding. My only sugestion would be to darken the rope just a little bit so it is easier to see. Of course just could be my old eyes. LOL
Lovely b&w and textures. Well done!
Thanks Sheree
Love this Erez. Simple but with a lot of detail and texture.
Thank you Rachel
Nice lighting, a number of different textures and perhaps some graininess to give the impression the photo is from an earlier time.
Thanks Michael
I like them both, Erez. but I’m leaning towards the first one as I like the brighter bollard as part of the story because it’s texture contrasts so completely with that rough rope. The B&W treatment is so good for showing that texture in the ropes. Great subject!
Thanks for your feedback Judy
love this image, really works well. Well done
Thanks Craig
Nice photo Erez. You did capture the detail in the rope and you did a good job. Nice clarity.
Thanks Jeff
Love the textures in your image Erez. For me – I’d crop out the big white blob in the top right which is distracting me from the ropes. Brent
Thanks for the feedback Brent!
Just wanted to thank everyone for the nice comments on my photo. I’m on a tour of Northern Minnesota right now so I don’t have much time to process and upload photos. Maybe later today since we don’t have to pack up and leave today. I spent all day yesterday actually photography in B&W yesterday. I had forgotten how much fun it can be. May do much more of that. I did shoot only color on cellphone but my Sony was set for B&W. Had used it that way since I bought it in 2015 and it took me some searching on how I could do it. That was my challenge yesterday. Hope to post results tonight. Loving all the photos I see here. Sorry I don’t have much time to comment this week but I hope to get a comment on every one.
Can’t wait to see your photos!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2bfc2cccd58fc4a66b261ef4d2aa7be1f784e772deab2426213fb571d14eae55.jpg
“The Angel Oak Tree (on John’s Island, SC) is estimated to be in excess of 400-500 years old, stands 66.5 ft tall, measures 28 ft in circumference, and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet. From tip to tip Its longest branch distance is 187 ft. There is considerable debate about the age of the Angel Oak. Some contend that it is 1,500 years old. Most believe that the more conservative estimates are more accurate.” At night the ghosts of slaves supposedly dance around the trunk. A branch that was damaged in a storm now resides at Mystic Seaport, CT, part of which was planed and used to repair old wooden boats.
Wow, what a great story. For me the shot is half in, half out. What I mean is that I would have took the shot that encompassed all the tree and have someone stand at its base for scale or zoom into the tree to pick out the textures of the bark etc. It is still a super shot and one that you can be proud of. Well done.
Thanks for your comments, David! Next trip I will take into consideration your suggestions! I do have some images with people to show the scale of the tree. Several folks suggested I darken the image, which I am going to do and will post.
Old trees are always a fascinating subjects and this one is great. What are your settings?
fiat76. Great subject to shoot. You can clearly see the form of the tree and branches very well. I wonder could it be a shade darker. Very good shot as is.
Fiat76, Wow! What a tree. I would like to see it a bit darker, or have more contrast, it seems to blend into the background.
Hi, Nice photo. Although having a bit more contrast or darkening some of the areas would help make the tree pop. Nice work!
Very nice subject. Wonder if you can darken the trunk, add some contrast to bring out more texture in the trunk?
Will try to darken the trunk to bring out more texture. Thanks for the suggestion.
This is my second entry for this month. I wanted to have a go at some Macro so last week I went to a workshop where they had a bit of a studio set up ready. They had a selection of plants, Reptiles and Insects, most looked better in colour but this shot of a Gecko I thought looked better in B&W.
Settings were,
D5100, Nikon Micro AFS-VR 105mm 2.8, 1/200 sec, F16, ISO 200, Manual mode.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bff52665b59b1faf084fbb96136cb05bafd14c369800acaa3d7b76532341f406.jpg
Claire. A well taken shot. In particular I like the eye in this shot. Well done.
Claire, a lot of structure on the skin of that gecko. I find them fascinating. You got him very well.
Great capture. The eye is sharp — can see the veins. B/W brings out his skin texture. Nice
Thank you Lynn, yes I was fascinated how detailed they’re eyes are.
Claire, those eyes have it. What great detail! Looks like it could be an alien. Well done.
Thank you, I was very pleased with it.
Claire, brilliant shot, love everything about it.
Thank you, that means alot.
Oh MY! This is a masterpiece. The sharp eyes and catch lights are great. He looks like he might jump right out of the picture. Nice and sharp all around. Just love this photo! Excellent work!
Oh wow what a great capture! Catchlight and focus on the eye is nice and sharp. Love it!
Really nice capture! I am jealous!…. must keep working with my macros!!!
Thank you, and you should, that was my first time using a macro lense, so I was really happy with the shots I got, they did have flowers but I sort of forgot about them , was to busy with this one and a praying mantis.
Wow! This is a great B&W image, Claire. The focus is awesome, and I love all the tones against the black background.
Thanks you.
Yeah it was the tones I really liked, and the eyes
Great detail! Looks like it will be jumping right out of the screen. Love the photo!
Wow! This is an amazing close up. So many details in his eyes that I wouldn’t have noticed if it were shot with a normal lens. Makes me want to learn more about macro photography as I’m new with it.
Awesome photo! Incredible detail. Hope I don’t have a nightmare after looking at this!! 🙂
Amazing shot. Great texture and focus and these eyes! Just love everything about this image
Thank you Erez
What a cutie! I really like that the eyes are so sharp. That is most important, I think. My only suggestion for next time you try something similar is to try a slightly smaller aperture so the tip of the nose could also be in sharp focus, unless of course, your artistic vision was to have the eyes sharp and you weren’t too worried about the nose or back of the head. That’s 100% ok, too. I understand that the lighting conditions may not have permitted this, and that F2.8 may have been what you needed to use on the day.
Thanks Judy,
I completely get what yout saying about the aperture, I took lots of photos that day, with all different aperture, so some only got a little bit in focus and others got the hole body, just happens that this shot was a narrower f stop.
We didn’t have lots of time or I would of stayed they’re all day and got all the shots with different focus points.
I’m thinking of asking a local repile shop if I can have a a practice up they’re.
Thanks again
Wow. This is really cool. I like how you have composed and cropped it. Black and white works perfectly. You’ve done really well to get the eye so sharp.
Thank you Jarrod,
I really enjoyed getting the chance to photograph different species and having a little guidance.
Didn’t realise how hard it was to get anything infocus at start, was my first time using a macro lense so I was very pleased.
Claire. I agree, really cool photo and the sharpness of the eyes makes this photo. Well done.
Brilliant Claire – oh wow!!! Love how you’ve captured this macro reptile – those eyes are so sharp. The lighting and background are great, making the gecko’s head really pop. Love the textures on its skin and the lines in the eyes. Well done. Brent
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6d25d0167f08c4eee8aea75f2f00968acf1ce3cb47bbd20656fb0f843698a500.jpg
An old building on a farm we visited with these two chairs abandoned
Craig. I like this one. love the chairs against the wall and the textures of both. Nice lines and shapes. A simple photo well taken.
Craig, I like the simplicity of the subject. Great detail on the wall and the chairs. The building in the background on the right is a little distracting, I wonder if you could blur that a bit?
Good job Craig, Simple but effective. You can imagine two people sitting on the chairs with a beer putting the world to rights.
Interesting. The wall in the background allows that chairs to stand out. Also the chairs are different colors so they also stand out from one another. Great job!
This almost looks like a painting. Very smooth lines. Really works well.
Interesting photo. I love the detail in the chairs. What are your camera settings for this shot?
I was using a 24-120. I lost the originals of this Pic due to a computer theft thus only have the JPEG left- sorry
I like the contrast of the wooden chairs against the stone wall. To simplify it a bit, I would have been tempted to isolate the darker chair for a few minutes while photographing it with the wall behind and then quickly put the other chairs back 🙂
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6d42d11221cef5e97affb90be0f8c41a68e63fb4c26d1c89a13f6a1e9cf9b6cc.jpg
A ferrit – pic taken in my clinic- very cute fella
Great photo, Think the B&W works well here, brings out the textures more, nice one .
Craig. Nice capture. I think the textures are very good and nice contrast between the Ferrit and the arm of the holder.
Craig, lovely picture. Great spotted fur in contast with the arm and background. Well done.
Well done. Those claws look very sharp, great detail and just a bit of light on the eyes.
He is so cute. Nice sharp eyes with catch lights. Sharp photo. Great work!
Adorable face, Craig. Do you treat a lot of ferrets in your practice? We don’t see that many anymore in New Jersey.
We get a fair number- one of my Vets specialises in the exotics. Having said that they are not really legal in South Africa as there is some concern of them getting into the wild.
In my clinic, we have one vet that took an internship in exotics. These days I just stick to dogs and cats.
ha ha, me too 🙂
Very cute photo. He looks very comfortable!
Great photo! Sharp focus on the eyes. What are your settings?
SO cute! Great capture too – well done
Awe… what a lovely little ferret. It looks very happy and comfortable. Nice job getting the eyes nice and sharp with little catch lights. The B&W treatment shows the texture in its fur. Did you show this to the owner? I’d be delighted to have such a lovely portrait of my pet.
Very cute and a great example of a black and whit image.
Sweet little face. He looks excited to have his photo taken. This works well in black and white. Well done Craig.
Yes very cute indeed. Like the shallow depth of field used here and eyes are sharp. I’d possibly crop a little more of the arm off on the right hand side. Brent
my second B/W. Have been looking at this old building surrounded by a small overgrown forest and thought it might be a good photo for B/W. F6.3; iso100;1/30;50mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/89c1adc246b63289a3912c739541832a533f63f0e004852561bb9813a1535523.jpg
Lynne, I like the concept, but in my opinion the cabin gets lost behind the trees. Maybe a slightly different angle, from a bit more on the left?
This is a great picture. Good texture and tonal ranges. I agree with Sara that maybe moving slightly to one side would show more of the cabin. Nice job!
Very nice picture, Lynne. Mysterious, but then sort of happy! A lake cabin, scary but not!
Lynne. A nice sharp shot. Works well in B/W. A little straight on for me.
Thanks for the insight. How about this one. I really liked what B/W does with dappled light on the roof and trees. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/04b09a8f9417bad45f4688273acaf40f3c461bb085e527013d33a5ebce911acf.jpg
Lynne. Yes this gives me a better view of the cabin and its overall surroundings. Is it a tad off line not quite perpendicular. This is me nick picking. It is a great shot.
Lynne, This is better. You can see the cabin, but still get the effect of it being in the woods.
Much better. I like this photo. There is more texture and you can see the house a lot better from this view point. Great job!
I think I like this one, too, Lynne. The dappled light on the roof is really nice, and it is more obvious in this shot. Really interesting that changing your position created such a change in perspective. The cabin is hiding amongst the trees in the other shot, but here it is so obvious.
It looks reasonably large, but still dwarfed by trees. Your photo adds mystery, and I think being black and white helps with this. It makes me wonder how it looks inside. Well done.
Reminds me of the one room school that our grand parents talked about. I like that you didn’t blur the trees and captured the whole photo in focus. Well done Lynne.
I prefer this one where you show the entire house. Yes when converting to B/W the dappled light does look cool. Might want to check on shutter speed – there seems to be a bit of blurring when I look in close. Well done. Brent
Hi All. Not a post. I have been away for 8 days and all the B/W posts are magic. I have spent the last two hours catching up on comments etc. If I left anybody out apologies. I have a lot of catch up to do on this project.
Glad you’re back Denis. Brent
Glad to have you back.
Welcome back, Denis.
Denis, just enjoy making your own B&W.
I shot this little guy at my local Wildlife Refuge the other Day. I converted it to black and white using Silver Efex Pro and made some slight adjustments to one of the presets. I used my D750 Nikon at f/8, ISO 100, 300mm at 1/250 of a sec.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3b48eaefb4025ebf7c852103f14f05a0f3f80bdcb2602227a2677f2add588686.jpg
Beautiful shot Barbara! You have done well to get the catchlight, and I love the blurry background and the contrast between it and the subject. The only suggestion I have is to allow some space to the right of the bird in in direction it is looking.
Thank you. How is this version? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6dfa1d2ca711150fc63f8ab3d16ee99727da436db5f8f6d9effb4df62d4fe318.jpg
Yes, I like this much better.
Barbara, fantastic shot! Great catchlights, awesome background blur and separation. I think this version is better, well done.
Really like the composition of this version. This is a beautiful photo. Nice job.
Barbara, I find this version better. Good composition. Nice details.
Thank you
Well done. I like this one better with more space for the bird to look into. Well balanced.
Thank you
I like the light in the bird’s eye and the messy detail of the vine it is perched upon. Did you experiment with adjusting the contrast, or the brights vs dark tones? I would explore brightening the bird’s breast a little bit and see what you think. In any case, it’s a great shot just as it is.
Thank you. I will see how it would look a little brighter. I did work the adjustments just a little.
Wow, nice capture. I like that you gave the bird room in the photo to look into and not crowd the sides. I like the focus on the bird. Well done Barbara.
Thank you
Awesome shot , the bird just draws you in & the background blur just blend in so you really don’t notice it ,Great pic.
Thank you
Barbara, Great shot. Lovely detail and a nice sharp eye as well.ell done.
Thank you Denis
Great shot Barbara! Love the ‘catchlight’ in it’s eye. Really like everything about this. I do agree with Janet’s comment re: more space.
Thank you. I did post a second picture of it with more space to the right. 🙂
Nice shot Barbara. The nice bokeh and detail.
Beautiful shot Barbara. This background gives a nice painterly effect and the bird is really nice and well lit
I love the look in it’s eye. The contrast is great with what looks to be clouds in the background. Gives it a real soft look which makes the bird really stand out. Well done.
Thank you
Here’s my first b&w post … a steel worker 150 ft up on a construction site in Mission Bay San Francisco. I was trying out the Sony a7Rlll with the native GM 24-70 lens, shot at 70mm (significantly cropped) , 1/80 sec, @ f/2.8, ISO 100. I did minimal post processing in Lightroom to bring out highlights and shadows. Shooting in black & white gives a whole new perspective to the quality of light. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/33b611e2364a6a0ba496d31e9681fa623abc4ed1c7dd82c05d444b225b6586d0.jpg
This has very nice lines, and also shadows and highlights. It would be interesting to see the original prior to cropping as if you got more of the welding, may have worked more for the sparks and cropped in by his foot. Nice shot!
Sheree, I would have liked to show more of the welding sparks but there is a very bright vertical pole just beyond the right edge of the photo that was too distracting.
I understand! Nice shot!
Richard. Good lines and angles. It always amazes me where these people have to go doing their job. Good capture.
Great sharp,detail in this shot Richard.
Wow. Nice contrast and detail. Well done Richard.
Interesting texture and details. Great subject for B&W and very well done. Love it
Well done, good composition. Glad I don’t have to do that for my job, heights and welding! Yikes.
This is a great photo. Good depth of field and composition.
I like this Richard. Shooting from the lower point of view makes it more interesting, in my opinion. I like the contrasts of all the lines in this image.
Yeah, No thank you, I would not want that job. I like the use of lines with the pipes and scaffolding, and the use of shadows to help help with the B/W. I like it.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f55a31f0ddd0184603b58263c269cc22f976d8177f6f508a84540ca9568d8356.jpg This is a photo of a commuter train track by my house. I used an infrared preset. It made it look like there was snow in the trees. I liked the way the telephone poles and train tracks draw your eyes into the distance, wondering what lies up around the bend.
Looks very cool Peter!
Thanks, Sheree.
Peter, that snowy thing on the trees gives your picture certainly a special effect. It gives a creative view.
Thanks, Christian.
Peter. This is a good one. I like the lines. They give it a lovely feel. It looks like a very expensive model railway set up. Well done.
Thanks, Denis. You made me remember my Lionel train set I had growing up.
Interesting photo Peter.
Thanks, Rachel.
great leading lines and texture. I wonder what it would look like if you took the shot ommitting the first two poles. great shot either way
Thanks, Lynn. If you look at the lower left corner, you will see the telephone wires leading up to the pole. They lead my eyes into the scene. If I crop the photo, I’m not sure your eyes would be drawn in as well.
Great image and leading lines, Peter. Nice composition.
Thanks, Romy.
Lovely image – very nice composition and guiding lines.
For my personal preference the effect is too strong – creating an over sharped image, but it is only my taste. It is beautiful as is so.
Thanks, Erez.
Peter well done. i have not used an infrared preset before, now I want to. Well done. I like the leading lines.
Thanks, Sara.
I like the composition and the way the rail line takes you from the front to the back of the photo. It may just be me but the trees and ground seem a bit to bright me to look at. Again this could just be my eyes. Otherwise this is a great photo.
That was the effect from the infrared preset that I was looking for.
Than it is perfect. My eyes have always had difficulty with bright yellows and lights. Great job!
Thanks, Barbara.
Hi Peter – I have not played with the infrared preset. I will have to check it out. It has an interesting effect on the trees. I like the composition here with the leading lines of the rail tracks and the details of the trees contrasting with the sky.
Thanks, Judy.
I really like the contrast and composition you have chosen. Well done Peter. I’m going to buy an IR pass filter and see how that works.
The effect definitely creates some interesting photos.
Great photo Peter. This would look really cool in a frame to hang in your office. The trees do look frosted with snow, and like you said, I like how the photo leads my eyes off of the page. Well done.
Thanks, Jeff.
This is my second entry. The first one (flowers- too busy) was a bit of a bust. So I isolated this “Spider” flower. Just happened to have a shadow in the right spot, which helped with contrast.
Canon M6 with adapted Helios-44-2 58mm f/2 manual lens. f/5.6, 1/3200 sec, ISO 100. Converted to B&W in Affinity.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/967ba6901600566ea7794f0adcc1cd011fcf3c26712f273b96ffaaa1543e4726.jpg
LOvely B&W, Rachel. I wonder if it may pop a bit more if you cropped some of the black on the right side, and lightened the highlights? But love this!
Thanks Sheree! I left the black space on the right In an attempt to somewhat maintain the rule of thirds. Maybe it doesn’t need it!? As for the highlights, some of them are already on the limit. I tried and they blow out.
Rachel, I love this flower so much! I hope you don’t mind, but I took a screen shot and played with it a little bit.
I cropped in a bit — not sure if it works for the rule of thirds, but does it matter? I also tried to pop it a little without blowing it out. Great practise for me in Lr!!! 🙂 Thanks!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9ed9b580eb67abcf33be396fb520902e8565aaa9b144750bad35ac8136e1ca7c.jpg
Rachel, good picture. A lot of detail. Great contrast of the flower with the background. Well done.
Thanks Christian!
Rachel, Good shot. Great clarity in the textures. Like the way the flower is leaning into the frame. Well done.
Thanks Denis!
Very nice photo Rachel. It is crisp and clean. The star of the image is the flower so the dark background removes any distractions.
Thank you Andrew.
I like this shot Rachel. The black background really brings out the flower. Nice image.
Very good composition – it is an interesting flower and I love your placement of the flower in the image. Great subject for B&W and beautiful image
Great composition. Lovely flower detail. Well done.
Nice job. The photo is sharp all the way through and the composition is perfect. The background helps to make the flower pop from the photo.
Great job, Rachel. So sharp! I really like the light being reflected off the tiny hairy bits on the stems etc. I would see if making the light tones just a little brighter appeals to you as @disqus_fGWrfrmXu3:disqus also suggested, without going so far that you lose any of that beautiful detail.
Such a beautiful contrast between the flower and background. Well done Rachel.
Great composition and contrast!
Thanks Janet!
Great shot, Rachel. The grevillea is sharp, and stands out beautifully from the background.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3a31c5213be1ef92e157f520e1350ee84eb74edfa9f1a11abfef3213e761f398.jpg
Great image, beautiful flower.
Very good shot Rachel….the grevillea is one of my favourites to photograph….so interesting and very nice in B&W
Thank you Rero!
This is my second post and my first ever attempt at a B & W portrait of my wife & her Morgan mare. I shot it on the spur of the moment and did not really plan it at all. I ended up with fence posts & gate posts sticking out of the horses head. I really struggled getting the spot removal tool to work correctly above the horses head, thus the little bit of background blur between her ears where the post was. I am still learning lightroom. This image was taken at ISO 100, F/8, 70mm & 1/100sec. Overall, I think it came out OK. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/43e0a6c6f7744cea9e5e4dbca5f2ec3603f224450bc2cf21784fce0cae2ecaab.jpg
Jim, very nice portrait. Good composition. Very good filling and framing of your picture. Well done.
Jim, A very nice shot of your good lady. Very relaxed shot. Oh the other Lady looks well to. Well done.
Hi Jim, I really like this, both look relaxed, the tones are good, nice use of all the space to. Well done.
Jim, this is a lovely shot. Nice focus and you have managed alleviate shade under the peak of the hat on your wife’s face. Overall a really nice photo that you can print and frame.
Lovely portrait photo Jim. Good focus. This photo looks best in black and white in my opinion. Well done.
Wonderful portrait Jim – good separation from background and warm emotions. Love it.
Since you have uniform sky, you can easily paint the blurred spot out using Photoshop, even so it is a very little problem.
Lovely! I agree Erez on the sky.
Great work. Yea taking things like that out can be an utter pain, but you will get it. The detail and focus are perfect. I love the textures and the tonal ranges. Really makes the picture pop.
I think it came out really great! So much character in the photo and what a wonderful story it tells!
I love it!
Jim, this is a lovely shot … tells a nice story. You are not alone with learning how to use the spot removal tool in Lightroom. The blur is much better than a post.
This is a really good photo! I like how the black and white highlights both the horse and your wife. Well done.
This is such a nice portrait, Jim. Editing to remove pesky posts etc. does get easier with practice. The gem here is that you noticed it before we did 🙂 The tones are very nice and the composition of the horse’s head over your wife’s shoulder tells me they are great friends. BTW… I have a hat exactly like that one.
Nice photo of them both. I like the calmness in both of their eyes, which is captured really well with the B/W. Well done Jim.
So nice to see a portrait for this challenge, Jim. You have done it really well. Great capture.
Very nice portrait shot Jim, and timeless in B&W!
Lovely image! Agree, great to see a portrait.
Good job removing all those distractions from your portrait – yes sometimes things happen fast and we don’t look at the background. Great shot by the way, love the interaction and connection between your wife and her mare. They are both very relaxed. Brent
Blarney Castle Gardens.
1/800 sec f/13 ISO 4000 45mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/45f7f4a7e243813ed395d7c24bed93bc57c425f973ae79e79a885073727bacf4.jpg
Hi Andrew, I really like this image. The flower heads sought of create leading lines through the photo and there is a nice contrast between the flower heads and the rest of the darker areas. There is a nice depth of field and the flower heads in the foreground are tack sharp, well done.
Andrew. Just back from that part of Ireland. I like this shot. Good textures and clarity to it. Depth of field is good as the flower heads lead me through the frame. Well done.
Lovely image Andrew and a very good separation from the background.
Andrew, very nice how those flowers are leading us to the background.
Well done! We missed Blarney Castle on our Ireland trip this year, now this makes me want to go back. Lovely separation and detail, like the flowers leading you to the background.
Great job! Nice sharp detail in the flowers and depth of field is also very good. The flowers make a sort of line that leads you from the front to the back of the photo.
Even the light shining through the trees in the background look like these flowers! Nice shot!
This is SO lovely, Andrew. As other have commented, the repeated flowers draw me through the image. B&W works very well here, indeed.
I love the detail in the flowers and their contrast with the background. Great shot!
Lovely image, Andrew. Love the repeated shapes on the dark background.
Lovely image Andrew…..love the tones and the different shades throughout… a bit busy for me though.
Thanks to all of you who commented about my Angel Oak image (I apologize for not responding to all individuals, but the wifi was spotty at best at my locale). Several of you suggested I darken the image. Maybe the clarity is still not there, particularly the leaves? Comments and critiques are welcome! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5038aeb3f41148bff7a312775b5b84beb609042e7cab2749d32d98ddb9ec0503.jpg
This is much better. The trees stands out better now and you can see the textures in the bark. Great job working the suggestions.
Thank-you, Barbara! I welcome the input. I am still very much tentative about posting my images, but I am inspired by some of the submissions in this challenge!
Your welcome. Submitting your photos will help you to grow. It took me 5 years to get where I am at and I still have a lot to improve on. Keep up the good work.
I liked the previous version too, but this is much better – great work
Erez, thank-you.
I like this picture. It has something mysterious with all those light and shadows spots. Well done.
Christian, thanks for your comment. You and Sara both “see” the mystery.
Fiat76 Much better! In my opinion this image doesn’t necessarily need clarity. It is a very mysterious tree and the softness of the image helps with that. Very, very cool.
Thank-you, Sara, for a different perspective: majesty plus mystery.
I really like this version! It is very mysterious as is.
I am curious as to what you were trying to achieve, though. Is this what you envisioned? If so, brilliant!
I may have tried to bracket this to get more texture in the tree itself…perhaps 5 shots bracketed.
But really like this overall effect!
fiat76, I love the tree. I concur with Sheree’s suggestion to add more texture.
Really like this tree. You can almost see a character in the main trunk. Nice shot!
fiat76. In my opinion good adjustments here. I think the shot stands out more. Well done.
what a Majestic tree. This is Mother nature at her best. I like the shadows and highlights
WOW….what a wonderful tree! I am thinking the brights are too bright here….and a bit of work in post processing would make this pop even more! Great shot Fiat 🙂
Thank you
Thanks Claire! I must admit that I haven’t decided which version I prefer
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6c25992640ef62bab575e7499482873f4a6ba17343c922bb3032193e37d0f85f.jpg
This was a building covered with graffiti art work. I was fascinated by the 3 Guys. 100mm f5.3 1/400 iso100
Phyllis, I love this shot. It works so well in B&W. It might be an idea to remove those grasses in the foreground as I don’t think that they add to the photo. Great work.
David i agree i will have to see if i can remove the grass.
Nice. Love this picture. Nice detail and composition. Great job!
Great job! Interesting Graffiti.
Interesting shot! It works rally well for B&W!
Phyllis, you have chosen a great subject and framed it perfectly !
This is really good! It almost looks like shadows. I like it a lot!
Phyllis, great photo. It make you stop and think about what the 3 people are doing – texting, reading, …. Black and white makes it more poignant.
That is what i thought, thanks
You found a great subject for this B&W challenge Phyllis. I think this works very, very well. It is an interesting image that has me examining all the different art and textures.
Phyllis. A very good example of using the space around you. It works very well in B/W. It shows the expertise of the artist who created this work, and your own in the the way you took the shot. Well done.
Thanks
Very cool shot Phyllis. I have never thought of shooting graffiti in B/W. I will have to be more observant.
Very interesting capture here Phyllis – I guess you are seeing this more and more nowadays with everyone looking down at the phones. And I think this image is more compelling because it is black-and-white. Well done. Brent
Phyllis, this is great! Perfect subject for B&W. Love it!
lovely. you captured a great shot as well as comment on our lifestyles today. like this a lot
I love the subject! It looks like their shadows got stuck to the wall! I love how you’ve captured it it gives a haunting quality to it.
Amber thanks so much we think alike.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5c9788ce547174a57e9a0d7675fc2b8edfae3e43ad38000250eab1e04c42a6df.jpg
Noosa National Park
M 4/3 camera, f16, 5 sec, Iso 200, with 10 stop ND filter.
I manipulated the exposure slightly to show more detail in the clouds. As it happens, the rocks in this location are fine grained and very dark.
Michael, Great shot ! I love the motion in the clouds and water. My only suggestion would be to crop the right side at the peak of the big rock. Nice work.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b46312d2ea82b6146dff7a0fa1a9eda7ff656f79cee3ec7bd7458d9d57ab1969.jpg
A minor crop on the right – I cropped slightly to the right of where the rock profile begins to fall away – I didn’t wan to lose too much to the two ‘pillows’ of sand on the lower right. What do think?
Michael well done. It has almost an otherworldly feel to it.
Michael, Perfect !
You did a nice job capturing the clouds as well as the water in the foreground. I also like the intense black of the rocks.
I think this crop does help with your image Michael – My eyes still go to that surrounded rock. Brent
Michael, very smooth look of the water. I like the contrast of the black rocks and the white clouds at the other side of your picture. Well done.
Very nice landscape, Michael!.
ooh….nice misty effect on that water from the slow shutter speed. I also like the contrasts from the rocks and the bit of cloud on the opposite side. In my opinion the image is nicely balanced. Very nice image, Michael.
Michael, I agree with Judy. Well done.
Michael. Very good shot. Well balanced and good light. I particularly like the low angle you took this at. It gives it very good perspective and feel. Well done.
Thanks – I dropped the tripod low, to have the camera quite close to the sand.
Beautiful milky long exposure effect and the contrast with the rocks adds a lot – great image.
I wonder if more of the rocks textures can be recovered. If it is too dark – maybe consider bracketing next time. It is a wonderful image as is so
As you probably already know I’m a huge fan of long exposure images – especially when the rocks have that total blackness in them. Nothing wrong with no detail in the darker parts of this image I think it adds to the mood. For me the main point of interest is that rounded rock with the highlights, just to the right of centre. Wonder if there is a way to make that pop even more? Well done. Brent
Thanks. The ND filters are a relatively recent acquisition – still using the L plates. By making the highlights pop a little more do you mean some lightroom dodging?
I mean making that rock stand or more by giving it more contrast relative to other rocks. Brent
Thanks
So home tonight and wanted a glass of wine. This is what inspired this!
Still trying to work out macro…. used my D750 with Micro 60mm ISO 2000 F7.1 1.6sec.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e00c07805b9b8950152bf47214d118347466e144bd7d1cccc8fe6f111dc6f2b2.jpg
Sheree, enjoy the Prosecco. Love the bubbles and the light reflections.
Thanks Peter. It actually was the empty glass with condensation on the outside —no prosecco! 🙂
How did you create the condensation? Was it from the humidity or something you did? It’s amazing!
Great creativity Sheree….i like this a lot!
Thanks Rerro. I think it may need a little more “punch”…. but was afraid to overprocess as it is cropped in quite a bit.
This works really well as a black and white image. Well done.
Thanks Jarrod.
Sheree, good picture. I like the repeating bubbles. Well done.
Thanks, Christian. This was water drops on the outside of the empty glass. Actually, the subject was a fly in the glass—but I could not get the fly in focus!
Sheree. Good shot with an interesting view point. Well done.
Thanks, Denis. Appreciate your comments!
Intersting perspective, almost difficult to guess what the subject matter is. I like the very shallow depth of field- it falls away very quickly. Nice image.
Thanks Michael…it was water drops on a wine glass, but did crop heavily. I tried with a smaller f-stop, but liked the shallow one too!
Such a cool image! Great macro that you turned into a beautiful abstract – great work
Thanks!! Appreciate your comments!
Very cool abstract photo!
Thanks, Sara.
Nice shot Sheree. I’m not a wine drinker but have been told wine goes with everything.. Photography included. 🙂
For sure! Thanks for commenting!
Sharee, very nice textures. Did you use an external light source or is it just the room light?
Thanks Juan. No, just natural light that was in the room.
Nice use of macro, and the clarity of the shot. This works well in b/w.
Thanks, Jeff!
I think the shapes and textures in your image here are excellent Sheree – I especially liked the darker shadows in those bubbles and the highlights on the outsides, give a good 3d feel to your image. I had to read your description to figure out what the this was – very creative. Brent
Many thanks!
This is so cool! Great way to show off the varying textures and how light bounces off the condensation.
Ha, I never think to take pictures like this. That’s what I love about this group, all the inspiring pictures. Great shot.
Sheree, Very nice. I love the texture and there seems to be come motion too. I will have to look more closely at my glass of wine tonight.
Thank you Claire!
Magnolia Cemetery, Baton Rouge, LA
Canon EOS 6D, EF 24-105 @75mm, ISO 800, 1/40 sec at f/16
What better place for black and white than a cemetery. This is a historic cemetery dating back to pre-Civil War. I like the way the age shows in the lost veneer on the old crypt. The sun was coming up over the trees, causing some distracting lighting in the background, which I tried to improve by adding an exposure gradient mask in Photoshop. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1f7f7c99aa37b2f01b8a27f8c3adfc17b6ccf568a4eaa9a321d4af189cefb486.jpg
Steven. You captured the ageing process here very well. Cemeteries are always an interesting place with a lot of history attached.
Very nice black and white. Interesting forefront, and good textures in the tomb. You are right, cemeteries are interesting to shoot!
Interesting photo. The crypt has excellent texture and tones. Some of the headstones in the back almost look ghostly.
Steven
I like the fact that you left the background with some focus as to give part of the story. I think the light coming through gives it an interesting mood
Well done with the B/W. I also like the shadows around the grounds, and head stones.
This shot is all about the textures for me Steven. Love from the old structure in the foreground with the bricks and parts of the mortar still in place. How can you make this better? I think you’re main point of interest takes up a little too much of your image in this instance, maybe a wider angle shot or a closeup of the brickwork might produce a different feeling? Well done. Brent
Steven, to me the main point of interest is the brickwork in the foreground…..the texture and broken cement on the stonework is fabulous. I would be getting up close and finding an interesting part of the brickwork and filling the frame with that!
Thanks, Claire.
Taken at a flower farm in the mountain area using my phone. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/677bf3f7b0c37936881fc9800a7720fc1cc6fddd43d4ff42866ece783f1e82b1.jpg
Hazel, nice picture. Good contrast.
Thanks Christian 🙂
Hazel. Very nice shot from a phone. I like the droplets on the flower and the texture of the leafs. Well taken.
Thank you Denis ☺️
Nice image Hazel – interesting textures and great contrast. Well done
Thanks Erez ☺️
Nice crisp B&W. Good shot with your phone!
Thanks Sheree 🙂
Hazel, nice job. Do you know what your settings were?
Hazel
I really like the texture that is transmitted on this picture. it looks like a “wooden” flower
Nice capture with a cell phone. I like the clarity of the lines in the flowers. Well done Hazel.
Well done Hazel, Like the tones in your image and the fact that I can see the entire flower. What kind of flower is it? Also something to consider is to possibly lighten the petals of the flow so that it pops even more, you can do this in lightroom or other post processing software. Brent
Thank you Brent 🙂
Hazel, I like the sharpness of the flower contrasted against the blurred background.
Thanks Peter 🙂
Lovely shot Hazel, perhaps a little more clarity and contrast on the petals to try and separate them from the background.
Thanks Christine 🙂
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5ae1edca89f0010e2ac6489005f5924af0c0df12f39c4a268c0816db6acdaeed.jpg
Patterns in the Sand 1/160sec; F/ll 45mm ISO 400
Doris – this is amazing….a brilliant image, very well captured and portrayed. Very well done 🙂
Wow. So much texture. This is beautiful.
Thanks for call yourcomments
Doris, sometimes you don’t have to look far away. You get interesting pattern. Well done.
Doris. Very good use of the space around you. Well taken shot with good patterns and textures. Well done.
This is a very interesting shot, Doris. Super patterns!
Well done, love the texture and the movement of the sand.
Well done Doris. I like the contour and texture in this, and also like the shadowing.
nice pattern Doris
Love the textures in this image Doris – very interesting to look at. What I’m wanting to see is a distinct single point of interest for my eye to settle on. Brent
Thanks you.
Great image
I like the fact the eye is drawn around the image finding different patterns.
I note Brent’s comment on the SPOI and wonder whether there is a class of photos where it is quite acceptable not to have one.
@brentmail:disqus
Brent
See my comment below re a distinct single point of interest
I note you’ve made to comment a few times in this B&W challenge and am wondering whether there is a class of photos (an example above) where it is quite acceptable not to have one
Yes – sometimes with abstracts like this it is acceptable to not have one but for me I like to find something to settle on other wise my eye goes around and around. Brent
It would be interesting to know if one always need a single point of interest.
I really like this, Doris. The movement, and the light Vs darks..well done
Doris, I like the intrigue that the photo creates – it leaves it up to the observer’s imagination to think about what this represents. Someone on Mars saying ” I love you ” ?
Thanks
That’s really neat, I wouldn’t guess it was sand.
There are so many great black and white photos here. It’s great discovering how others see the world around us. This is my first post for this challenge. It is a new building in the city where I live, looking upwards at the side using a 70-200 lens.
Settings f/11 1/60 sec iso 250 @ 128mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c33833c487122f43ab4f592375f3259e957a86f49171746c2b7df051b1690e0f.jpg
Wow….great first image Jarrod….love the structure, the leading lines, the contrast and the tones here! Welcome to bootcamp!
Thank you Rerro. Glad you like it. I appreciate your comments.
Jarrod, nice picture. With a different point of view it gets an abstract look. Good contrast and repeating elements in your leading lines. Well done.
Thank you very much Christian. I appreciate your comments.
Jarrod. Very different shot and good creativity. Nice abstract feel to it. Well done.
Thank you very much Denis.
Great shot Jarrod, interesting angle and a smart transformation of a familiar object into an abstract – love it
Thank you very much Erez. I’m glad you like it.
Very nice clean lines, Jarod. I really like the treatment of light and shadows!
Thank you Sheree. I really appreciate your comments.
Great shot Jarrod. What a funky building. Is the curve lens related or building related? either way it is still cool.
Thanks Gary. The curve is building related. I could show you some images of the building from another perspective.
That would be great! I’m not sure about posting rules here so just reply/post in this thread (I hope that’s ok).
Jarrod well done. The like the lines and that you left the right side of the photo empty. I can see a series of photos of this building from different angles. Very cool
Thanks for your comments Sara. I’m glad you like it. It’s quite a unique looking building.
Jarrod. I love abstract pictures. I like the negative space on the right side of the picture. Was this shot from below or a different building?
I shot this from ground level right next to the building looking upwards vertically. I’m glad you like it. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
it is amazing how you can imagine how the picture was taken and it is not always how we picture it. great job
It’s great isn’t it. So many things to love about photography.
Really cool photo. Looks like some crazy roller coaster ride. Great use of B/W spaces along with the vertical lines. This would look amazing in a frame. Well done Jarrod.
Many thanks Jeff. I love how you can see something completely different in this photograph. I appreciate your comments.
Great photo!! I really like the lines:)
Thank you Pamela. Your comments are much appreciated.
Wow Jared wow – another magic image from you and well done on last months cover image too! Just love the lines and shapes tones in this image and the way my eye is sucked up towards the top of this image with those repeating shapes. Stunning! The only suggestion I could give you is to bring down the lightness (luminosity) of the sky little. Brent
Thank you very much Brent. I really appreciate your comments. I guess my thinking when I worked on this image was the contrast I could achieve. I did soften the corners a little and left that part in the centre of the right third bright as an added feature. Looking at it again, I can see what you are saying. Maybe it detracts from the building itself. I’ll go back and have a look.
In Lightroom you can click on blue sky and change the luminosity of just that colour in black and white. I’ll create a video for everyone to explain. Brent
Oh, really? I haven’t come across that. I still have so much to learn in photography and lightroom. It’s really amazing software isn’t it? A video would be great Brent. Thank you very much.
Very interesting. Works well in Black and White.
Thank you very much Valerie.
Very nice photo Jarrod. The repeating patterns work beautifully in black in white.
Thank you Romy. I’m glad you like it.
great image
Thanks for having a look Nick.
This is awesome Jarrod.
Thank you Keri. I’m glad you like it.
Brilliant B&W image Jarrod. Crisp, clean and simple Love it!
Thank you very much for your comments Kerrie. I really appreciate it.
Great cityscape photo, Jarrod. The architecture of the building is amazing. It must be hard to walk/drive by it without staring at it. Where do you live?
I live in Adelaide, Australia. There is quite a bit of construction going on throughout the cbd, and some of the new buildings are really unique.
Thank you.
I like this shot Jarrod. It proves the point that often with architectural photography, capturing only a small piece of the detail can be far more interesting than a shot of the entire building. Good contrast between the shadows and light.
It’s great that we all see things a little differently, but what you have mentioned are two things I was hoping to achieve when I took this photograph. They were to capture a small piece of detail and to show contrast. I appreciate your comments Andrew. Thanks very much.
Nailed it! This is really a fantastic shot! The repetitive pattern and the angle in which you chose to capture it is spot on!
Oh, thanks very much. I’m really glad you like it Amber. Thank you very much for your comments.
Jarrod, I think you’ve done a great job of combining and unusual perspective with a subject that has so much texture and contrast that, to me anyway, it demands B&W to show it off .
Thanks very much Judy. I’m glad you appreciate it. Thank you for your feedback.
Wow, I love this, so abstract with great lines.
Thank you Chris. I’m glad you like it. Thanks for your comments.
Jarrod, This photo demands attention and forces the viewer to spend some time with it … very nice work.
Oh, wow. I really appreciate your comments. Thank you very much Richard.
Awesome shot Jarrod!
Thanks very much Rachael.
Jarrod, a wonderful shot. Interesting cladding on the building. There is great contrast and terrific lines throughout. Good job.
Thank you very much David. I appreciate your comments.
Thank you very much Claire. I appreciate you having a look and taking the time to comment.
This was taken out of my car window as I was sitting and waiting on some road construction. It reminded me of a Bev Doolittle painting. Settings 1/200 sec, F11, ISO 1000, 24mm. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/28cac4eb2ba13cae8e6f30096e47e2f43a6b7e9d46408bdc26bf8a0ded054474.jpg
Valarie. This works very well in B/W. A nice use of depth of field. Good balance and light. Nice shot.
Thank you Denis.
Great photo of the individual trees as well as the capture of the forest. I was thinking Ansel Adams when I first saw this which is probably why I liked it right away. Well done Valerie.
Thanks Jeff.
I like all the patterns in this image Valerie with all the lines – especially in the background where the shadows are perpendicular to the tree trunks. The only thing I would suggest you do here is find one major point of interest to focus the viewer on. Brent
Thanks Brent for the feedback. When thinking about a single point of interest I didn’t really have one as I was looking at the trees in their entirety. Something I need to keep in mind. Appreciate the reminder
nice image
I like the light and shadow on the trunks
a suggestion for improvement would be to delve into lens correction and see if the trees on the outsides can be made to grow straight up.
Thanks Nick for the suggestions. I haven’t used the lens correction so something new for me to test out!
I like the angle of this shot, Valerie. It give us a real feel for the height of these trees. Well done.
Thank you Kerrie.
Valerie, I like this picture. I wonder if a portrait format of this would have given an extra accent to the height of those trees. Then we could have seen the entire trees on the left, so those who are “falling” (on the right) wouldn’t disturb the vertical lines. Well done.
TThanks Christian got the comments. I will have to play with the crop and see what I might come up with.
I love trees Valerie…..i am however struggling to find a point for my eye to settle on here.
Thanks Christine. I really didn’t have a firm POI something to think about when these types of scenes catch my eye.
I really like the repeating lines of the trees, Valerie.
Thanks Sheree.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2458d8b12e10f26947929c16ef644af3718eed722d5ab536c1ba26654c07f921.jpg
I shot this with my Canon 5D MIV. I used a graduated neutral Density filter Settings: 1/3 sec, F20, ISO 100, 30mm
Juan. A lovely peaceful shot. I like reflections in the water and the stillness you have portrayed. Well done.
Thank you Denis
How peaceful. Great use of B/W. I like how the white of the boat really stands out.
Thanks Jeff, It was very relaxing
Lovely composition, the white of the hull picks up nicely with grey, very calming.
Thanks John. I was trying to make the water look like a mirror. That is why I used the ND filter
Great tonal range in your photograph Juan – and having the main point of focus a white vote against all the dark grey’s is a great way for you to pop. Love the dark clouds too. Brent
Thank you so much Brent. I was using the ND filter and was disappointed that I got the “X” factor when I used my lens in 15-20mm
Brent do you think that there is a lens aberrancy that causes the pic to look crooked?
Just noticed that – yes but it can be easily fixed in lightroom
Very nice and serene photo Juan. The white boat stands out against the grey background and foreground.
Thanks Romy
Nice shot, great B&W The white boat is a nice point of interest and I like the still water and a great sky
I think your horizon is skewed a bit and the bollards/pier timbers could be more vertical
Thank you so much Nick. I will try to see if I can straighten the horizon a bit. I place the grid and I think the issue is that the Left side of the picture is coming out at a different angle but will check again.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ff4c648ba2dde35b0419d56f6bb0337f469a76012d99a97627468cd59f30ddc4.jpg
please let me know how this looks.
looks good
Thanks Nick
Juan, great picture. I love the scenery. There is a balanced present of grey tones in the landscape and in the clouds. Great eye catcher with that white boat. Well done.
Thanks Christian
Lovely job! Love the tones.
Thank you Sara
I like how the white boat pops here….and love the clean smooth reflections…great shot Juan!
Thanks Rerro
Both versions are great, this one straightened the horizon….so this is better.
I really love how you handled this.
I really like this photo. The contrast between the white boat and the rest of the elements makes this!
This is a beautiful shot. I love the tones and refelctions.
Thanks Kerry
I love the different tones in the clouds and the silky smooth water. Those reflections are beautiful also. I like the exposure you have chosen. It gives it that contrast and the white boat composed perfectly and in sharp focus really stands out. I really like this photo Juan.
Love the stillness in this, Juan. Great composition and tones. It’s a really beautiful image.
Beautiful Juan, such a calm scene! Love the reflections on the smooth water.
Fabulous, Juan. Really love how you handled this! Very calming.
What I like best about this image is how the white boat really stands out. Nice use of your shutter speed to get that tranquil water.
Love the reflections and clean lines and the white boat stands out nicely.
Thank you so much Chris
This is my second attempt to post a picture.
f5.6, 1/125, ISO 800 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1ca2a8eaa3b8c1707cae5df2988446114e6935b10fdb6cc3c5afce619b8c39f7.jpg
Pamela. This is a beautiful picture. Having the bench as the focal point is really nice. do you have a version that does not clip the legs? I would crop the top a little more if you can see the legs in another version.
Thank you Juan. No I don’t, but I will go back and get one.
Hi Pamela. the chair is the star because it is so crisp compared to the rest of the picture. Could the background be blurred more? Or a different crop be applied to draw me in further. Well done.
Thank you Keri.
The bench looks so inviting as it is so well in focus. Makes me want to walk to a park and sit on a bench. If this is close by you could play around with the rule of thirds and different angles, but sometimes it works to have the focal point right in the centre like you have done. I like it Pamela.
Thank you Jarrod. I will probably try again.
Nice image, Pamela. The bench is sharp, and I like that my eye is drawn diagonally into the photo along the path. I’d like to see a bit more space below the bench.
Thank you, Kerrie. I am planning on improvements.
Pamela. A lovely example of nice open space for a nice quite moment of reflection. Good capture. Maybe next time get down lower and it might enhance the shot even more. Just a thought. Nice shot. Well done.
Thank you Denis.
I like the image. I think a slightly different angle, lower and a bit more to the left would give it more.
Thank you Sara.
I like the repetition of benches here Pamela. But i am distracted by various things here. Try and use a different perspective next time, maybe try lower down using the front bench as the focal point, with the second bench faded in the background
Thank you Rerro. I will be going back.
A lovely photo, Pamela. POV is very crisp. Nicely composed.
Thank you, Sheree.
Although not true black and white, because of how the lighting was and what my settings were, this shot practically came out monochrome. This is a storm front approaching Wellington Point. 1/3200, f11, iso 250.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ebef1f9f9d5630b5214a2227ca899652a570e62364f5a4dc815efb6a3852f30f.jpg
very nice picture Kerry. I like the storm cloud and you can see the sun is trying to come through.
Thank you Juan
It certainly does look stormy. I like the shimmering light on the sand and waves, and the low angle you took it from.
Cheers Jarrod. I am a fan of the low perspective.
Nice
I like the light flare off the water and a great moody sky
couple of demerit points for not being a true B&W – LOL
LOL. Thanks Nick
Nice moody image, Keri. I especially like the light and texture of the wet sand.
Thanks Kerrie
Keri. Very good shot. In particular I like the capture of the light on the water. It mirrors the sky directly above. Very effective in my opinion. Well done.
Thank You Sir
Keri, nice monochrome picture. You got the light playing in ghe waves and on the sand. Have you tried to see how it looks in B&W?
I will give it a go Christian.
Keri well done. I like the shimmer of the light on the waves.
Thanks Sara
Keri, I like the mood of the clouds with the contrast of the shine on the water….but, to me the shimmer is distracting and blown out.
Thanks Rerro. I’ll try another edit on it to tone it down.
Keri, I like your photo. I really like the clouds, and how stormy they look, and also the water just looks peaceful. Well done.
Jeff, appreciate your comment.
Keri,
I really love the clouds…. may have tried to darken the light on the water…. but really love the silver lining above the storm clouds.
Thanks for commenting Sheree.
Very nice! I really like the light reflecting on the water.
Thanks Valerie.
A rare stormy/cloudy sky in Sydney
I was looking at it thinking, damn I can’t get anywhere scenic to get a speccy photo and noticed this power pole nicely silhouetted
So…
1/200s, f8, ISO 100 at 57mm. I got down low to get more of the pole above the roof lines across the street. got a funny look from one of my neighbours!
I straightened it up a little and upped the contrast a tad. The original is monochromatic in itself.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2c353b38fdd86c1a5b493906e57c2d69997a35df80cac876eb37d341941bc8a1.jpg
Hi Nick, I like the chaos in the various lines and angles against that stormy sky. Very resourceful !
Nick. Very creative and it works well against the sky. Great example of good use of whats around you. Well done.
Nick, indeed a special picture. But creative done and you got a special effect. Well done.
Very nice shot Nick. We usually tend to avoid the electric poles and light but this is creative.
Creative! I am sure we have all gotten strange looks from people when taking photos. I like the lines crisscrossing. Well done.
Great moody shot Nick…..the crisscrossing of the wires adds to the storyline…..!
Nice use of rules of thirds in your photo Nick. I like how the storm clouds left a little space for the pole to peek through. Good contrast.
This shot reminds me of a shot from The Birds-Alfred Hitchcock…minus the birds. Very eery….I like the cross wires and your clouds are fabulous!
Cool shot, Nick. I got an impression of ‘Power’ when I first glanced at this image. Firstly from the pole and lines, and also from the power of nature in that dramatic sky.
Very cool, abstract and moody.
I took this a couple of days ago during a short break from destructive winds. I was drawn to the strong design elements in this garden.
1/6 sec f11 ISO 100 @ 26mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/27c2a06951c2361be33ced7a2e06a2b5250093fdeea179720500dab6dad28190.jpg
Kerrie. Very nice shot. Nice depth of field displayed, and a great variety of textures and tones. Well done.
Thanks Denis, and welcome back 🙂
Kerrie, I like the symetric view at the bottom of your picture leading us to the end to rest onb the bench. Your picture gives a peaceful feeling. Well done.
Thanks Christian
Great composition Kerrie and very good eye leading. I like the almost symmetry here and that it is not a perfect one.
Thanks Erez.
Very nice shot. Sharp with lots of detail.
Thanks Rachel.
I like this shot Kerry. It has a Infrared look to it
Thanks Juan.
Kerrie love all the tones and textures, the detail is awesome.
Thanks Sarah.
Very nice shot Kerrie…..great composition….As the opening at the end of the walkway is the focal point, i would be trying to accentuate that point, by darkening the left and right side of the path, and brightening the POI
Thanks Rerro. I’ll see what I can do.
Too bad about the destructive winds, but they provided a neat photo op for you. I like how the railings on the steps lead my eyes right into the photo. I like this.
Thank you Jeff.
I love the composition of this. Interesting photo, almost feel like I could start walking right down the steps!
Thanks Sheree
Hi Kerrie – as other have already commented, the use of symmetry works very well in this image. I also like how the inlaid paving stones also point me down the path to the end of the walk.
I have a lot of catching up to do in this project, so forgive if I break the rules a tad and post one a day to achieve this. While on my vacation I paid a visit to Blarney Gardens and the next few shots show various scenes. Hope you all like. Shot Details; ISO 200, FL 36mm, F8, SS 1/125sec. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7ccb28f708ba7b0bc9e7271e6bf23d5e3df535aad20ab1945f1e7efa2e28edea.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7ccb28f708ba7b0bc9e7271e6bf23d5e3df535aad20ab1945f1e7efa2e28edea.jpg
Lovely image Denis and a beautiful composition and light
Erez. Many thanks for your feedback. This month is a challenge for me in that I am or was not a great lover of B/W. This is getting me to look at shots in a whole different way.
Really nice photo Denis. Love the contrast and detail in the clouds.
Rachel. Many thanks for the feedback.
Denis lovely composition and drama. Well done.
Sara. Many thanks for that feedback.
Denis, this picture gives me an intimate feeling with a lot of tranquility. I find this picture rich of gray tones. Great clouds in the sky. Well done.
Christian. Many thanks for that feedback.
Denis, just love this shot, it’s got lines, shapes and great contrast. Well done.
David. Many thanks for your feedback.
Beautiful timeless shot Denis….good composition, and the image has so much texture and detail tat leads us to the focal point. Well done!
Rerro. Many thanks for your feedback.
Great looking building Denis. I like how the sidewalk / driveway leads me to another part of the photo. Well done with the contrasting colors.
Jeff. Many thanks for your feedback.
Great picture. I like the lines and contrasts.
Pamela. Many thanks for your feedback.
Beautiful B&W Denis….. Love your contrast and the overall composition. Nice shot!
Sheree. Many thanks for your feedback.
Love the contrast in this as well as how the light comes through.
Valerie. Many thanks for your feedback.
Nice image, Denis. The lines and textures are really great. I like the composition a lot.
Kerrie. Many thanks for your feedback.
Very nice composition, Denis. The path and gardens frame you subject well. As bonus, there is lovely detail in the clouds.
Judy. Many thanks for that feedback.
Very picturesque. Lovely image Denis.
Chris. Many thanks for that feedback.
In our city a couple of years ago a new football stadium was build. To increase the accessibility of the neighbourhood a new bridge was constructed. First I wanted to get the whole bridge, but there were too many disturbing elements near the bridge. Therefore I shifted my attention to a detail of that bridge to emphasize the slim structure of it. As it was a sunny day without clouds I got contrast between the bridge and the sky (as background).
settings: 1/160 f/11 iso 100 67mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f565cdb2f76cea57b97c24300f3539421a4070e270cfd01a3ba059be82f3b3c4.jpg
Beautiful high key image. Interesting choice of crop. Very well done
Thanks Erez.
Christian. A very interesting perspective which works well here. If you have a shot of the bridge itself I would like to see it. I like this work and your thought process.
Denis, here you have an original picture in colour. My B&W was taken from the other side. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5e140858b91a38ee85a4522722a9dcadcc7e89854c673c7386e13bcdf82d4d40.jpg
Christian. Many thanks for that. I wonder if you cropped the top left corner off and the tree out of the bottom right, maybe lighten the shadow under the bridge and converted to B/W would that enhance the shot. A lot of great lines and angles to play with. Just thoughts.
Denis, I will certainly keep this into account for a future challenge. I didn’t work this out as I still find the bottom of the bridge distracting for my goal to emphasize the slim view for the driver using that bridge. Much appreciated for your comment.
Christian, like this one better. I agree with Denis about the cropping and lightening the shadows. Good job.
David, in fact this coloured picture was uploaded on demand of Denis. But as I wanted to have an abstract view on the bridge, I find this one not good enough even with a crop.
Christian, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s a good shot.
Thanks David for your comment.
Thanks David.
I think both photos are good. I like the lines in both, it makes the bridge look strong. Well done.
Thanks Jeff for your comment.
Christian, I like how you used the suspension cables as leading lines.
Thanks Rachel.
Great lines and detail.
Thanks Sara.
Christian this is really an abstract shot which you have captured very well. I am not so sure that it hangs well on its own though? Having said that I don’t know what else I would have done with it. It might have worked well with clouds in there. Great job anyway.
Thanks David.
Great abstract Christian…..very effective!
Thanks Christine.
Very nice shot and good capture! Like the clean lines..
Thanks Sheree.
Terrific abstract image, Christian. I really like the clean lines and the way the light picks out the edge of some of the cables.
Thanks Judy.
I took this shot on Hamilton Island off the Queensland coast ,the long walkway & shadows looked right so I shot it . https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/907b435714546d1f40ef149a54b203be88fd4688af3a9f27b73fb9d58055d810.jpg Sony A-65 , 1/640 , f8 , iso100 , 18mm .
Peter. Very nice shot. Works very well in B/W. Good clean lines and I like the angles you have captured with the roof design. An example of Hard light with the shadow along the wall. Well done.
Thank you so much for your feedback Denis
Thank you so much for your kind feedback Denis
Peter, this a special building with all those curves leading the viewer to the background. The hard shadows give an added value to this B&W picture. Well done.
Thank you Christian ,very kind.
Peter, you have captured a super shot here. I love all the lines and curves, they lead your eye right the way through the picture. The shadows really accentuate the lines. Great job.
Thank you for your feedback David
Great use of black and white….and very good composition Peter!
thank you Rerro
Really like this, Peter. Nice composition!
thank you for your thoughts Sheree
Great walkway leading up to the main building. Nice use of contrasting colors and the different shades of white. The water looks so peaceful.
Thank you Jeff
A good use of leading lines showing the way to the building.
Thank youso much
Interesting building! Love the leading lines and the various angles of the building. Great subject for a B&W photo. Well done.
Thank you Sara ,I was going there for lunch with my wife after a walk around the bay <had my camera with me & we started walking down the boardwalk & the scene looked good so I stopped & took a couple of shots .
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/47a10af9a4cd0e20681d92fde8ad455c8068b85bdd2c39bd3decb1e5e29623d0.jpg
We have had some fires around here. But this one is surviving.
ISO 100 90 mm f/4 1/640 sec.
Too bad about the fires, it looks like it destroyed some great vegetation. I cheering for this little guy. Great use of greys in your photo, I really like the contrasting shades. Well done Roseann.
Roseann. Very nice simple shot, well composed and taken. I like the different tones and texture in this shot. Well done.
Roseann, nice picture. Good texture and contrast between the survivor and the background. I wonder if getting more of the (empty) surroundings could even more emphasize the catastrofe and the hope for the rebound of nature. Well done.
Great tone and texture.
So far I have posted a macro plant and an animal photo; here comes one of architecture. Some time ago,our photo class went to Waterloo Village in NJ, now an abandoned industrial town. This photo is of the company owner’s house, which they are trying to renovate. Nikon D5300; 1/800; f/7.1; 35mm; ISO 200. Have I said I love B&W photography?! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8d7be8a348805c01d20af3023f1d837bb661f327a0900c6679a4b31311e79a2a.jpg
I like the texture and sharp lines and corners of this structure….the B&W also makes it difficult to see if this is a modern building or one from yesteryear! Timeless and very nice!
Nice lines…. lots of interesting things to look at.
Really nice angle. Great contrast, too. Well done!
This is an unusual angle for an old building, and has an almost forbidding aspect to it that is more than intriguing.
Leila. Creative shot here showing of the lines and angles. Nice light and balance to the shot throughout. It also picks up on the amount of renovation needed. Well done.
Leila, very nice textures on the house. Did you crop this picture? It would have been nice to get some of the gloomy clouds. I have to do renovations on my 1790 house as well.
Leila well done! I love this angle! I am not sure you could have packed any more detail or interest in a photo.
Great shot Leila. There is so much architectural detail and contrast in the peeling paint. Very well done.
Leila, Nice photo … great composition and detail. Hope the renovators don’t spoil it with color.
This image was taken in 2017 at the Unitarian Church graveyard at 161-163 King Street, Charleston, SC. Unlike most cemeteries, the vegetation rules and it’s a wild place. For a legend about doomed lovers (the male said to be Edgar Allen Poe), one of whom is buried here, google The Unitarian Church, Charleston, SC. I am intrigued by old cemeteries and inscriptions on grave markers! Bonnie
1/200 f/1.9 ISO 40 28 mm
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/536b1d5aa5f390c011cfad7c5da199614a5fa99c266ed1fcd5ed352a8178fbd4.jpg
Very nice Bonnie. I love old cemeteries, too. The story you mentioned above sounds interesting, too. This almost looks like a shot from a movie set with all of the ferns and moss.
I really love this shot! I like the foreground, and the different heights and shapes of the tombstones.
Love this! It does look rather wild and I am sure is full of many great stories.
fiat76. Good shot. You have conveyed to me at least the wilderness it is and yet it has a sense of history to it waiting to be explored. Works well in B/W. Well done.
Fiat76. I love this picture. Was there a reason you used such low ISO and f/1.9? I like the vegetation taking over the grave site
Great shot. Well composed. Interesting history.
Thank-you, All, for your comments!
Juan, if I had a reason for the low ISO and aperture setting, I have long forgotten or it was not intentional or it was lack of knowledge!
I also enjoy wandering around old cemeteries. The overgrown vegetation adds so much atmosphere! Terrific subject for this B&W challenge.
Wow, what a spectacular image!! It’s bright but spooky yet peaceful if that makes sense.
A view of lake while on holiday in Kerry Ireland in July.
retained the blue for added interest. ISO400, fl18mm, f10, 1/125sec
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/260674bf1d4cbe146ff67776ceeda8778d017a431611eca74b8108685e6c7b4e.jpg
John, I find it a nice picture. I am not sure if this belongs in the challenge of B&W because of the use of a coloured POI. If I am wrong I would appreciate to hear it from the moderator because this opens for everyone a new perspective. But overall I like the look through in the shadows towards the lighted landscape in the background with the boat.
Thanks Christian,
Nice image John and a good way to bring out your POI, but strictly speaking….the introduction of colour makes this a colour image
Tanks Rerro,
Great use of the pathway to lead my eyes to the lake, and the blue boat. I do like the contrasting shades of blacks and spots of white on the ground, and of course that little patch of blue.
Thanks Jeff
I do like the added colour to bring out the POI…… Nicely composed!
Thankyou Sheree
John. I like what you have done here – adding the colour. However I think it infringes on what this months challenge is about. The shot in itself is well composed and taken and shows a touch of individual flare by adding the colour. Well done on these points.
Thanks Denis
Hi John, interesting picture. I would not add color in this instance because it caused fringing. Also the challenge is “B&W”. I would also try to crop some of the foreground so you can bring the POI closer
Thanks Juan
John lovely composition. Adding a bit of color is one of the next things I would like to try.
Thankyou Sara
John, I really like this image. I like how the trees frame the image and help to draw you into the photo. I think that the different contrasts are nice and, I like how the less obvious boat in the background forms a triangle between the 3 boats, adding to the composition of the image. If this were a competition, I would agree that the blue boat is a problem, but since it is only a challenge, I have no problem with it being there and being blue. In fact, I think it really adds something special to this image. With the help of the trees, the blue pulls your eye directly to the subject of the image, the 3 boats. Well done!
Thanks Vicki, it was the the blue that originally caught my eye, and so decided to
leave in.
‘Dracula’ appeared at our front door on Halloween Night last year. I managed to snap his picture… Sony Alpha 7 ii with 85 mm lens at f1.8, 1/60 and ISO 3200. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/088aa18d5ba60cc0a5ea92c17679b9e177bd6ef400617d85290257b1cfba5239.jpg
Wow…fantastic Sig! Great portrait! Well done
Thanks Rerro – very much appreciated!
Very fun photo, Sig…..
Thank you Sheree!
Good picture, the eyes really catch your attention. Nicely done.
Thank you Valerie!
Love the eyes! They look very spooky to me.
Thank you Janet. Yes, I think the eyes make this photo.
Sig, nice portrait. There is a lot of expression.
Thanks Christian! Glad I achieved some spookiness.
Sig. Nice shot and good expression. Well Done.
Thanks Denis – appreciate the positive comment!
Sig. I like the harsh light hitting the subject in this case. It gives it a scarier look. Did you use a flash?
Thanks Juan for the positive comment! No, I did not use flash, hence the high ISO.
Wonderful job!
Thank you Sara – much appreciated!
Love it! The eyes are SO sharp, and the shadow behind adds nice depth. It must have been cold – poor kid has a runny nose. The mouth is a bit soft, but you nailed the focus where it needs to be on the eyes.
Judy, thanks for your positive comments. If I remember correctly, the runny nose was actually part of the makeup. Yes, the focus on the mouth (and the nose and ears) is soft. It is a function of shooting wide open at f1.8. In retrospect I should have used f2.8. That would likely have put the mouth in focus as well.
Great image and perfect subject for black and white. And I think it is great the boy did not smile for the photo. I am curious as to the light source – looks like it may be coming from a porch light overhead. The focus on the eyes is great.
This was taken in Smithville Park, NJ. But the picture, I believe could be placed in Italy.
f7.1, 1/125m ISO 100 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3944dce6a4c77b2098857aeb3fc6d7ecde06319697018272bec3ebc94f96a6d2.jpg
Good shot Pamela, I like the contrast. Perhaps you could darken the sky for a more dramatic effect??
I will try, thank you, Janet.
Pamela. Nice lines and Angles in tis shot. I would agree with Janet about the Sky. That said the shot is very nice.
Thank you, Denis.
Pamela great job. Love the detail of the stucco.
Thank you, Sara.
Great lines and contrast. The lace curtain is so delicate compared with the railings and stucco.
Thank you Judy.
Settings: Canon EOS 550D – ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/8 sec
The local School of Mines wanted someone to take photos when an engineering group visited, so my mother nominated me. (Mothers are good like that.)
While I was wandering around I took the opportunity to try to get some photos for this month’s Boot Camp, and this is one I came up with. Anyone know how to dampen down overblown light sources in Corel AfterShot Pro 3? I used the vignette setting to try and stop the window from drawing the viewer’s attention away from the lantern(?).
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/95c60a2a4982c39f63d447d528a9a41b08b24fc2a708b1301db7803232295251.jpg
I like the top of the lantern and the blurred background but I agree that the light in the window distracting. I also find the light coloured planks also a bit distracting.I’m don’t use Corel AfterShot Pro 3 so unfortunately I cant assist. Perhaps you could darken the background a little. Others more experienced may be able to help.
Purupuss. I like the shot of the Lantern. I think it would be even better taken from a lower and different angle. If you have a gradient filter on your Processing System you might be able to reduce the Highlights and Shadows in the background.
Purupuss, I would try a different angle or try adding a fill light to lessen the light coming in form the window. Also if you meter for the window light and use a fill light it can lessen the brightness. I have been trying to do things in camera and not post because you could spend a long time on Lightroom, photoshop or other software.
Hello Purupuss, first of all you have a great name. It’s a nice clean tack sharp image of the lantern but I find the background a little messy and distracting. You used f2.8 so I am not sure why the background is not more blurred. If I remember correctly using a longer lense might have achieved a softer background. I am not familiar with the post processing software that you are using but a heavy vignette would probably work to dampen down the blown highlights. Or you could carry out some local adjustments. Good eye for the picture and well done.
I like the lantern. I agree a different angle may have helped with the window and the lighter colored planks.
I made this photo some time ago of the shipwreck on Fraser Island. I like the different textures and the story this shot has to tell. You can even see the layers of rust! Settings 1/640, f3.5, 18mm, ISO 100. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a832b519598c5d6382de9a6a0e8ca3cbdc577622ddd172af8c1cb8fc605fbb8b.jpg
Janet, what a great picture. There is a lot of roughness in that wreck. I also find the background is making the scenery complete with the waves and the threatening clouds. Good composition. Well done.
Janet. I like what you were after here and a great subject for B/W. The shot in itself is good, however it is a little dark for me. I wonder if you lightened the shadows a little in post processing?. Well done.
I agree that it is a little dark so here is the amended version. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8b443ac7ca17ff4be08b5be6cce5739d613db6a03319442eefe63258bcb94e3f.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/472eed25ef7fd7f8c000ea358b1a2faed8b5c735da074b57b73410147a494cdb.jpg
Janet. This is my preferred shot. A great job on those adjustments you made. Very well done.
Yes like this version better. Love the textures and lines in your image Janet. Something I would have liked to see is the top of that “mast” jutting into the sky. Well done. Brent
I really love the texture and clarity you have captured here. I like the dark mood and composition. I wonder how it would look with the contrast slightly increased. Very nice photo Janet.
Janet, what a subject, I love the shot just as it is. With the dark threatening clouds and the surf behind you can just imagine the storm that caused the demise of the ship. Well done.
I like it, but personally I think it is a tad dark. Great composition.
What a fantastic subject! I agree it may be just a bit dark. It starts to lose some of those fabulous textures! Great image for B&W!
Janet, I love the textures. I also like the sky which gives contrast to the whole story
The layers of rust are amazing! Really nice with that threatening sky in the background. The light on the pools of water under the wreck help define the frame of the wreck.
Awesome shot, Janet. So much detail in the wreck, and the moody sky and the waves put this in context with the surrounds. Well done.
Hi all. Many thanks for all your positive feedback on yesterday’s post. This is one of Blarney house. I think it might be a little dark. That said when I lighten the shot for me it looses something. Look forward to your comments and thoughts. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/21a7a99c0de8df1498243de4a4e827a77691d8ffab65f02d303ebfe87a5d3fc0.jpg Details: ISO 200, FL 18mm, F10, SS 1/100sec.
Denis, I like the fact that you tried making it lighter and it did not work. A great deal of trial an error is necessary for the artist to show the audience what he/she saw at the time the picture was taken. beautiful.
Juan. Many thanks for that feedback.
Hi Denis, love this shot. It conjures up all sorts of mystique and intrigue. You can imagine Vincent Price returning to the house at dawn after his vampire activities all night. Don’t lighten it it will lose all the mystery. Great job.
David. Many thanks for that feedback.
This is the opening shot for a horror/suspense movie! I love it. Such drama and emotion. Awesome!
Sara. Many thanks for that feedback. I did not see it like that at all.
This would make a great jacket for a Stephen King novel! Sara, David, and Juan are spot on with their comments.
fiat76. Many thanks for your feedback.
Denis, this is terrific. The detail in the building is beautifully sharp. It does feel a bit sinister. My suggestion regarding the composition is to crop a bit from the left and bottom which would put the building a little more to the side. I would keep about half of that overhanging branch in the top left. Some people might say they find it distracting, but I see it as part of the framing for the subject.
Judy, many thanks for this comments and feedback. I will have a look later in the day.
Denis, Great B&W photo. I like the way you have framed the house with the tree in the foreground … very sinister !
Richard. Many thanks for that feedback.
Wow, Denis! This has to be your best one to date. I like that it’s nice and dark around your POI . If anything, I agree with Judy..a little crop from the left and bottom . Well done.
Kerrie. many thanks for that feedback.
Great photo Denis!
Rachel. Many thanks for the feedback.
I went to our nearby lake this afternoon and captured the shoreline with some of the nearby moored yachts.
Settings: 1/500 sec @ f/11, ISO-200, lens 7.5mm (15mm equiv.) https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1efc87ab148726c3e51bb8ea0775d36f561436af37fa6c8c4f919781140ddf98.jpg
Nice shot Rodney. I like how the light plays across the foreground rocks
Thanks Andrew. I liked that light too.
Rodney. The rocks in the foreground and the play of light make this shot for me. Nice contrast as they lead me to the waters edge. Well done.
Thanks Denis.
Rodney, nice picture. I love the layers: the rocks, the water, the other side and the sky. Good composition. Good framing with the branches in contrast with open water side on the right.
Thanks Christian.
Rodney, I like your composition and the way you left similar negative space above and below the water. nice shadows and higlights
Thanks Juan.
Rodney, this is a lovely shot. I like the rocks as foreground interest but not sure about the tree on the left. If you moved position could you have gotten the shoreline in the photo that is now behind the tree? It would have been nice to see the shoreline sweeping throughout the picture. This is a really nice B&W image and you can be proud of it.
Thanks David. There were trees spread all along the shoreline and I did move around a bit but at this spot the trees always seemed to interupt the shoreline. Will look again next time to try to get the full shoreline. Perhaps if I had moved out into the water?
Nice composition, I like the lower angle.
Thanks Sara. So do I and the ultra wide angle lens emphasises it even more.
Gorgeous detail in the foreground, Rodney, with the light and shadows playing on the rocks. Very interesting how wind etc creates different tones in the water depending on whether the area was calm or densely rippled. One thing I notice is that the masts on the boats to the right hand side are leaning. I’m guessing this is related to using an ultra wide lens. Somebody once told me to get over that, and love it as part of the effect of using that type of lens, but I personally like to remove that distortion in Lightroom.
Thanks Judy. You have a keen eye and have zoomed in! I have only just got this new lens so still trying it out. I had earlier taken some test shots of a brick wall which didn’t seem too bad for distortion. It only seems to be some of the vertical lines as the horizon was fine, but that may depend on the tilt of the lens. I will have another play in LR with this image and see what I can do.
This weekend I took my family to Ballandean near Stanthorpe, (Queensland Australia). I took this photo in Girraween National Park. It is truly amazing how nature has achieved these balancing acts with granite boulders as large as these (and these were just some small ones)
Nikon D5300; 16-300mm at 31mm; f4.8 1/1000 sec
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/13a8cd51b618a7c3942688046aa798573980a15c07471d337e6d0b86f7761670.jpg
How cool is that? I love your appreciation for nature and this is a beautiful B&H photo. I could imagine this photo quite large on a wall somewhere. Lovely smooth tones.
Andrew. Lovely shot. I particularly like the play of light on the rocks. Nice capture.
Andrew, nice picture. There is much detail in the shadows. Nice light spots on the rocks. Well done.
very nice picture Andrew. Were these “man made” or they just fell into place like that?
Andrew, this is a super shot, if you open up the photo you can see all sorts of light falling onto the boulders. Great contrast and tack sharp. Good job Sir.
Very cool. Nature’s version of a cairn. Great job.
Great subject – the balancing rock is so amazing. I really like the way the light is coming through the gaps and trees and how the shadows play on the surface of the boulders.
Took this photo back in April whilst we were on a birthday holiday in Ibiza. The church was in a little village called Sant Joan De Labritja, I thought at the time that it was a perfect subject for a B&W image.://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3e09ba436589269627e375e1b38d17e2152c40f0fed913483c60478ea7000bad.jpg
Well done, it works very well in B&W.
Thank you Sara.
WOW…great shot David! What makes this so powerful is the B&W….and the shadow on the wall! Very well done 🙂
Rerro, thanks so much.
great shot David.
Thank you Juan.
Terrific shot, David! I really like the way you have graduations in the tones on the wall, sky and base of the statue. The fact that these are all happening on different planes adds beautiful depth. The black on the tower and statue really pop.
Thank you Judy.
David. Great shot. Love that shadow on the wall. Great composition and well taken. Well done.
Denis, thanks so much for your positive feedback.
Just Awesome, David!
Thanks a lot Kerrie.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1ccc84a090d49a1f7ecc196e9432a7d744d580d4a11acac05e94368239453887.jpg
This is one of the three kinds of sedum I have in the garden. I do not have a macro lens, so this is an extreme close up. ISO 800 220mm f/6.3 1/60
I think a tripod may have been better than hand held, but I was walking around the yard and didn’t take it with me.
I was photographing the same flowers this weekend Sara….they are amazing little treasures! Your image is a great interpretation…..like a burst of stars!
Yes, indeed….a tripod and macro lens will give you different perspectives….but i am glad that did not stop you taking this image! Well done!
Thank you.
The shape and detail of those flowers really stand out against the dark background. Very nice! B&W is a good treatment for these lovely flowers.
Thank you Judy. It took me a while to decide which way I wanted to go or how far I wanted to go with post processing.
Beautiful flowers, great shot!
Thank you, they are a very light pink right now and the only one of the three sedum that are blooming at the moment.
Great image Sara, looks like the sky with all the stars and planets. Like that your flowers are light and the background is so dark. I also like the repeating shapes in your image. Wonder if a single main point of interest would make this image stronger? Brent
Brent, thank you. I am not sure I could get a SPOI as the flowers are rather small and in clusters. But I will review that challenge to see if I can pull out a SPOI. Thank you for the feedback.
Sara. Very interesting shot and composition. You got a great star bust effect and it works very well in B/W. Well done.
Thank you Denis.
Behind the Nuns. (This is my first photo posting to Bootcamp). I shot this photo in a church while on a Holy Land Tour in Israel in Mar 2017. I was on a group tour so was rushed from place to place. (Bummer) I added a texture layer to give this an old world feel. I do not know how to use LR or Photoshop yet so am hoping I did the resizing correctly?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e941b16ce528f344a6875596c4af8a8139dbc5206c842a6c4252d1957aa8faac.jpg
Canon 6D, 24-105mm, ISO 8000, f.8, 1/40 shutter. I see after looking at my settings that perhaps I should have used a faster shutter speed? I’m very challenged with the technical part of photography so am looking forward to learning more with Bootcamp. Thank you.
Love this Deby….really great image….great composition and tells a story. I like the textures you have used, as it adds to the mood very effectively. Being inside in low light, shooting at ISO 8000 will introduce noise, but in this case….it works! Technically very well executed! Well done 🙂
Thank you Rerro. I’ll try to keep an eye on those settings from now on!
Well done! I think the texture overlay was a good choice. It looks like something out of a history book. The subject is very interesting. Once you take up LR my suggestion would be to straighten the image a bit (so the back pew line is your horizontal) and try to remove the railing (possible with cropping).
Thank you Amber. I sure see those issues. I appreciate the tips!
Deby, I think this works very well. It does look like it is from a 50+ year old book. I find shooting churches is usually difficult because you don’t want to use flash in a situation like this due to respect for the service, but the interiors are almost always in low light.
I’ll give it another go here. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d6bc6187dca29e9304d0714aa890d5aba3a809cabeeddd4586bf3742c8f2c2f9.jpg
Deby, it gives a peaceful feeling. Nice done with a lower point of view. Well balanced. Look forward to see more of your pictures.
Derby. Firstly welcome to Bootcamp. It is great fun and a great platform for learning. That has been my experience to date. This is a lovely shot and composition. It has a serenity about it as well as contemplation. Well done and keep the shots coming.
Well done. I like the texture you added.
This image is so powerful, Deby . It evokes (not so good) childhood memories for me .
Thank you Kerrie. Sorry about the (not so good) memories this photo brings up for you. I have certainly heard a few stories (from friends of mine) about how strict the nuns could be with their students. Kinda scary just thinking about it.
Welcome to the fold! And a very good first submission, I might add. The lower perspective adds some extra interest, as we can’t see what is happening at the front, and are intrigued as to what might be taking place at that moment. Doing this in B&W ensures no distractions from colors of the people’s clothing, the bright lights or the decorations on the walls. In the first photo, the handrail still in the frame would have been much more distracting than it is. I like the composition of the first if the handrail was removed. In recommend saving this one where you can find it easily, and practicing removing the handrail in both lightroom and photoshop. Photoshop will most likely do a cleaner job, but playing around with the tools to get a sense of what they can and (more importantly) can’t do will be essential to your post-processing.
Thank you Steve. I, too, like the composition of my first submission on this photo. I attempted to remove the handrail with PHOTOS program but it was a disaster so I just cropped as you see above. I don’t care for this crop much, eihter. When I learn to use LR and Photoshop I’m sure I will love it and wonder how I have lived without it all this time. I appreciate your tips.
Doing this B&W challenge has really made me think deep.
I have been doing a lot of introspection and contemplating about my photography lately….trying to kind my niche….my true passion! I am a Fine Art Photographer, and nature and landscapes play an important role. I also love impressionism paintings and artists like Monet. So, to bring all my passions together, i came across pictorialism. Bringing my photography to the next level, by adding textures, and my fine art impression on them. This is my first image using post processing techniques (that i am still learning how do do) to add the fine art painterly look i am passionate about. This one is called ‘One Tree Hill’ https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/984f28b6bedc6f5f8d3e0f3d963ec2f585892459a9d461fa827d733aa77b7014.jpg
I suggest you look at this on the big screen….to get the full effect!
I have no words! But since you can’t see the expression of awe on my face I will find some. This is unreal! I love the new affect you are trying out! You are my Yoda of photography and I just a Jedi who has so much to learn! Absolutely stunning!
Thanks Amber….that means more to me than you will know.
Yup – brilliant image @rerrorocher:disqus love those textured clouds. “Moody” is the word that jumps into my mind when looking at your image. Is this a composite image? Love your artistic vision Christine. Brent
Thanks Brent…Moody is what i was after here……I am stepping up the post processing by learning photoshop. This is one image, but with a few textured layers blended in.
Rerro, I can see the passion you have for this work. beautiful job
Thanks Juan 🙂
Wow ! Love this, Christine. I want to learn how to do this, too. I really like the textural impact of the brush strokes. That dead tree is a fantastic subject.
Thanks Judy…..I will try and teach as i go
Great
Great job. I tried to view it on big screen. It’s dramatic and moody. Perfect for big print.
Thanks RE
Wow, when I view this on the big screen, I feel like i am in a museum, dim lights, viewing this all on my own. Stunning!
Thanks so much Chris 🙂
Christine, good composition with the tree on the right and space on the left above some. Your brush strokes in the sky surely gives it a picturesque feeling. I like this B&W. Well done.
Thanks Christian 🙂
Rerro. This is great work. Firstly the shot itself has a very good perspective to it. Secondly your Post Processing is very good indeed even if you are still learning. This is a very good example of and Artist at work. Well done.
Thanks for the kind encouraging words Denis…much appreciated 🙂
Absolutely stunning! Keep going after your passion. I am enjoying watching your journey, I am learning so much from you.
Thanks Sara….:)
What a great image. Looks like your on the way to expressing your passion. Thanks for the inspiration
Glad to hear that you are inspired Lynne 🙂
Your work is always so beautiful and inspiring, Rerro. I think you have found your niche! You are a true artist.
Thank you for your kind words Kerrie 🙂
Absolutely Beautiful!! Not sure how you accomplished the fine art technique in post but you have truly made this look like a painting. Great Job as usual!
Thanks Valerie 🙂 I used layers of texture in PS
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e3de319446b9868447b304d7b79a8409e504ec6e2f99a991eb9ebc06306437c6.jpg
Hey All,
I was hoping to capture some more mountain images this week but the weather just didn’t lend itself to great picture taking. I’ve also done a what I refer to as a turn and burn (gone for a week, home for less than 48 hrs and back out again) weekend. This has left little to no time for me to do any new images/edits.
With that said I’m going to submit another one of my elephant shots from Thailand.
I’ve created a series of these images that I hope really speak to the viewer. I’ve painted out the background in PS to let the elephants shine.
Wow amber….what an extraordinary image….beautifully composed, and so powerful in B&W….This image ROCKS! I love the seperation between the two elephants using contrast, i love that their eyes are almost on the same level….i love that you have filled your frame with just elephants! I am impressed
Love the textures here Amber and the way you’ve used the closer elephant to frame the far-off one. Love those dark blacks too. Well done. Brent
Terrific textures in the skin. I also like your treatment to put them on a back background. Very beautiful and powerful. Excellent.
I like this too Amber although I prefer the first one for framing and hanging on the wall. Nice texture and depth.
Beautiful image and really looks great in black and white!
Amber, nice composition. Those 2 are filling the picture very well. Great texture.
Hi Amber. Stunning shot. Lovely tones, texture, and detail throughout. Great job in Post Processing. Well done. I reckon you go to the Top of the Class!!!!
Another beautiful elephant image, Amber. So powerful, these magnificent creatures…are just there..with nothing else around them. Yes, they shine!!
Well done! Again the beautiful elephants and the detail, spectacular! They are such a great subject.
Thank You Sara! They were a great subject!
Amazing! Such detail and the black and white really highlights it. Great photo and editing to make the subject stand out.
Thank You Valerie!
Great photo. Love the different shades of whites and blacks. Your clarity of both elephants is awesome. Well done.
Thank You Jeff!
Just purchased my first macro lens – it’s old but works great (got it on ebay from Japan). So went out and tried it out on the bees in my garden (back yard challenge right). Not easy shooting bees when they move so fast and the autofocus is a little slow. Captured this one that I like. Shooting at a closed down mid-level aperture f/8 to give me a little more depth of field in macro mode. 1/500sec shutter speed to compensate for camera shake and bee movement with auto ISO which jumped up to 1000 iso on a 100mm macro lens. Because this is a black and white challenge I chose this image which highlights the bee and not the flower which is bright pink. What do you think? Brent https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6403283e5b26bed80d4623f324d5f49a7b6daba41288145456c1effef4ff8ed3.jpg
Awesome….love macro….and love the B&W…esp like the different shades of grey on the petals leading the eye to the bee! and the aperture chosen has introduced a lovely soft bokeh in the background too….a natural blur. What is the little white blob under the bee?
Thanks. White blob is pollen. Brent
Thanks….looks pretty full….been a productive bee this one! Now to go and find the honey!
Awesome shot Brent. What external light source did you use? I can see that you focused on the eye which is hard to do
Luck – 2 other images had the eye out of focus. Natural sunlight. Brent
Perfect angle of light and focus on the bee’s head, Brent. The shadows from the petals add some depth to the image, too.
Beautiful macro shot Brent. You got the eye in focus considering that the bee was moving,
Beautiful, love the bee! Very sharp eye too.
Brent, very nice picture. Good compostion. Your DOF succeeded very well. Even in B&W it is lovely. The bee is good in position. I admire your patience, with that little busy living creature, which I think I don’t have it.
Brent. I think this is a great example of where B/W works very well. The Bee is clearly the POI and is seen that way. If this was in colour I suspect the flower would in competition and win out.
Brent, the bee nicely stands out and draws my eye in … and you have got it in focus. Well done. And yes I know myself with bees, there are more photos where they are not in focus.
Brent lovely image. The image is well composed and the bee has wonderful detail. However I see what looks to be a hair/lint in the white spot below the bee.
damn, now I see it too!
Wow, Brent, the detail in this is just awesome on the big screen! I love the aperture choice, the blurring from the left corner is so effective.
Love this! I was out today trying to get a photo of a wasp but haven’t captured that perfect exposure yet!! The detail is excellent.
Lovely shot Brent, lovely light highlighting the bees hairs. Personally, I would dampen the brightness of the pollen sac as that is what catches my eye first and it is lacking detail.
Well done Brent. Nice clarity on the bee, even with him moving. I like this a lot.
Buildings at Ft Alexandria, MN. These are late-19th century buildings that were once part of Fort Alexandria. I was struck by the texture and the range of tone that covered the whole spectrum. f/8.0, 1/60 sec, ISO 100, 35 mm focal length. Nikon D3400 with 35mm prime lens. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9ca41e3a3d57424716c41e2af704f7786183259fb72ed232a4a8e664a1c9d433.jpg
Hi Bill – I also like the texture and contrast between the wood and mortar (sorry..don’t know the proper name for that material).
Great texture and contrast Bill. Well done.
Bill, a lot of texture in the wood. Good composition.
Bill. Good texture and tones in this shot. Well done.
Bill well done. The tones and textures are spot on.
Nice clarity, and great use of the lines on the buildings. I like the rustic feel and look to this. Also nice use of the greys along with the B/W.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fc5df3ebf43b839338f031f41d4a2b2598948d8d9faf935a98ef57c43e4c5d76.jpg
Driftwood – 1/60sec f/4.5 70 mm ISO 180
Doris. Nice shot and good tones and texture. I wonder if you lightened it a bit would that enhance the shot.? Well done.
Beautiful textures and sharp detail.
Doris I like it. One of my favorite subjects. I wonder if a lower angle would be better? All a matter of personal opinion.
Doris, great textures are seen in this picture from the gravel to the brush and then of course the wood
Great photo for B/W Doris. I like how you kept most of the background in focus as well as the foreground. Well done.
Bridesmaid’s bouquet – settings ISO400, 100mm, F2.8, 1/125 sec. I expect some people will suggest that regarding composition, I should not have centered the vase and flowers. I really liked the soft background from the garden as an result of using the 100mm lens, but couldn’t change my angle without getting part of a window frame behind the subject. The bouquet had a lovely mix of contrasting shapes and colours and I liked the way they translated to B&W with this simple set up.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b5a92dae5b3e7014ca26fc004b1edff20082b09b778a6ef745bab7c6630c9c14.jpg
symmetry works really well here Judy as the bouquet it self has been arranged in a symmetrical way….gorgeous shot…so sensual with that natural blur. I like how the colours have given the B&W the unique shades. Very pleasing to the eye
Thanks Christine! When I was setting up the shot, all I could think was ‘so boring’, but I think it worked out well.
I wouldn’t say that. I think it’s beautiful.
Thank you Chris. My daughter worked at a restaurant that was booked out for a wedding. She took the bouquets that were left behind after cleaning up. I knew I had to experiment with one of them a subject for this challenge.
Judy, for me your composition is very good. Even without the present of disturbing elements. Personnaly I don’t think there would be an added value at placing it off center. Your POI is that vase with the bouquet. Very nice picture. A lot of shades and texture. Beautiful vase BTW agaisnt a nice blurred background. Well balanced composition. Well done.
Thank you for your comments, Christian. I felt a bit nervous about this one, but it also felt very pleasing to me. The background turned out much better than I thought it would. I’ve learned the value of using that telephoto lens to control the background in capturing this image.
Love the sharpness in this image, and the way it pops from that lighter background using f/2.8 aperture. Kind of like the way in the arrangement is right in the middle of your composition – breaking all the rules. Works for me. Brent
Thanks Brent! I’m pleased to see that the general feeling from this community is that the straight-up composition worked on this occasion worked for this subject and the way I captured the image.
Judy. Very nice composition here. A good example of simplicity at work. Well done.
Thank you Denis 🙂
Judy well done. Love the detail in the flowers and the vase. For this the composition is perfect. Lovely.
Thanks Sara! The variety in the flowers was so nice; I had a feeling it would translate to B&W quite well.
Well done Judy
Than you, Juan.
Rules are made to be broken! I really like the contrast, textures, and depth of field that you’ve captured.
Thanks so much, Brenda. I was nervous about breaking those rules and how it would be received, though. I like to think of rules as being more like guidelines 🙂
Just gorgeous, Judy. The bouquet stands out beautifully from that lovely soft background. Love the lighting, and the varied tones and textures in the bouquet.The reflection of the vase is also really nice. I think that any Bride would be happy to have this in her collection of images from the big day.
Thank you, Kerrie! I moved the vase around, played with aperture, tried different focal lengths and so on until I found the combo that I pleased me most.
Hi Everyone. This is a color photo of a red rose in my garden and converted to black & white in Lightroom. I find the conversion to BW flat and not interesting because the red hue appears as grey. To make the flower more appealing, I moved the red and magenta sliders to the right. The result is a white rose. To impart some appearance of softness and glow to the flower I reduced the clarity to -70.
From this: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5dd94a422976d0d37eb610ffbf4813694637d91937eaec8c5bed4151123ae4c5.jpg
To this: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/053d0aeb9ae1fcad53fd0424221c0c831a3aca6182d508e5f3f6839c746b8c70.jpg
That’s beautiful! I think I like the first one better.
Hi Chris, thanks for the feedback.
Nice picture. You did well to reduce the briteness on the left side. For the rose I would go as far as you did. Perhaps something in between. Now there is some detail lost in the petals. Well done.
That’s what I love about black and white photography and the way you can change the luminosity of certain colours. I think in this particular example a midway conversion would work better – somewhere in between what you’ve done here. Yes the rose does stand out in the second image but I think it’s slightly overpowering the leaves. Well done. Brent
Thanks so much Brent. I see what you meant. Will adjust settings.
Rev. Thanks for sharing your experience here. I like the original photo as it has a better overall feel to it. I would agree with Brent and Christian re looking for a midway point on your adjustments. Well done.
Thanks Denis. Your comments are much appreciated.
Thanks for all the comments guys. I am learning a lot from this exercise. By the way, I think, had I not mentioned that I took a photo of a red rose and without the original conversion everyone would think that i posted a black & white photo of a white or maybe a yellow rose. For the midway conversion there are so many possibilities. Anyway, here it is. Thanks again.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5f28861cc0adba9edeb456cbdec94c362e1ce9a0a67c9a42251b4719b436fac3.jpg
This is just gorgeous!….Love it 🙂
Thanks much Rerro.
Wow, REV, this is awesome! Absolutely gorgeous! Third time is a charm!
Many thanks Rachel. Yes I agree. Third time is a charm. One just have to keep on trying.
You got it. Now there is still a lot of detail in the petals. Very good.
Thanks very much Christian.
Rev. This is now very good. Well done.
Thanks Denis. Much appreciated.
I like this one the best. Although, I like the others as well. This one hits just the right balance between the other two. Well done. It is so fun to play in post processing.
Hi Sara. Thank you so much.
Rev. this version is a lot crisper and brings out the Rose.
Thanks a lot Juan.
I like this version the best … nice work !
Thank you Richard.
Wow…this is beautiful, Romey. The rose itself is gorgeous on the dark background, and I love how the bud pops from the foliage.
Thanks so much Kerrie.
Roses are my favorite and this is beautiful. I like all three versions but this one just seems to make the rose really pop! Nicely done!
Many thanks Valerie. I like roses too. I used to have a rose garden (about 107 varieties) in my home in the Philippines. Now that I stay mostly in Indonesia I am again starting with my rose garden. Thank you again.
Great use of your Lightroom sliders! The rose looks fantastic and the overall composition is pleasing. Well done.
Thanks so much Tessa. Your comments are much appreciated.
This is so beautiful I like this version best as I think it shows more depth in the rose and I like the detail in the background leaves and bud. So many possibilities, indeed! You landed on a good result here.
Hi everyone, my first post for this challenge. I am behind but also like the photos that I take to be saturated in color. So it’s been hard for me. Having said that, it’s good to open my mind and broaden my horizons. So here’s the Golden Gate Bridge at dusk. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e7513f3322cc3cb91cc2f491c1bed6131951a4522cd7b2547ff3878399134f98.jpg e.
So glad you’re taking part in this challenge Chris. Yes, this image would be amazing as a colour image – as a black-and-white it’s stunning too. Love all the great tones in this image and the lights on the golden gate bridge really do pop! There is one in particular, just left of the large strut that jumps out to me. The shapes and lines and reflections in this image rock! What aperture did you use to get the starburst effect? Brent
HI @brentmail:disqus, Thank you for your feedback. I used f8 with a 30 second exposure. ISO 100.
Hi Chris. You are not on your own here. I was much the same and since I started this challenge I am looking at compositions differently. This is a very good shot. Lovely even tones and light throughout. Nice depth of Field in that the lights on the far bank can be seen. Yes well done indeed.
Hi @denisobyrne:disqus you and I always have stuff in common. Thanks for your feedback. My preference is color but I am trying to see things differently.
Chris, very nice composition. The grey shades come to there right in this picture. It is of course a well known bridge and much photographed but I like it very much. I think you used long exposure. What are your settings? Well done.
Thanks @christianpiron:disqus I used I used f8 with a 30 second exposure. ISO 100. I had taken a night photography course and was trying to practice those skills.
Wonderful in B&W Chris…love the flat water and the bursts of light leading us to the city…very nicely done!
Thank you very much @rerrorocher:disqus
Great photo Chris. I have several of the GGB, from my holiday last, but in color and not from this perspective. Love it!
Thank you @rachelgilmour:disqus, if you ever come back and want to shoot, I will take you to this place!
Beautiful! That is why it is a challenge, pushing us to go beyond our comfort zone. Well done.
Thanks @disqus_cdh6bhNTbb:disqus, you are right. I get stuck in my comfort zone and need a push, often!
very nice job Chris. That is why I love Bootcamp because it takes us outside our comfort zone and we have a bunch of great people interacting.
Thanks @disqus_GS4axOeNE1:disqus , me too. Same reasons and yes, the people here are great!
Chris, Excellent B&W photo … much better than color would have been. I love the composition and the starbursts running across the bridge – especially when you zoom in. Did you take this shot from Fort Baker ?
Thanks @disqus_VMEwMaCfC1:disqus, yes, from Fort Baker, on that fishing pier. I like it in color also because of the reflections but agree it’s pretty good in B&W.
Such a great composition, with beautiful detail in the bridge itself. I really like the effect on the water, with those reflected lights. The starbursts make an awesome leading line. Glad you broadened your horizons, Chris, coz this is really good!
Thanks @kerrie_clarke:disqus, my horizons are rusty and cranky so I have to work at broadening them on a regular basis!
Chris. Great shot. I haven’t seen the bridge from this angle before (Fort Baker). I need to get over there and do that. I really like the perspective – looking up from almost water level. I was thinking I’d like it better if you cropped it a bit on the left until I zoomed in. I think it’s perfect the way it is. Nice job!
Thank you @disqus_G9wzfywbn4:disqus, there are a lot of good spots to take pictures at Fort Baker, fun to go there at dusk when the city lights are just going on.
Great perspective and composition. I think this looks great in B/W.
Thank you @rtbp99:disqus
Love this! The smooth water and reflecting light is beautiful. Great Job.
Thank you so much @valerieworthen:disqus
Great Shot Chris!!!
Thank you @keridown:disqus
Love this image Chris. Great shot. Well done.
Thank you @romy_villanueva:disqus
Very iconic photo, and it looks great in B/W. Nice clarity on the first pillar of the bridge. Well done.
Thank you Jeff.
Chris, this is lovely. The B&W treatment highlights the lights, the lighting on the towers and the reflections in the water, which you have nicely smoothed. Your hard work is well rewarded with this result!
Thank you Judy! You are always so kind.
Hi all. Again many thanks for all the positive feedback to my post of the 12th Aug. Still in Blarney Gardens. This is a shot of a Lily that caught my eye as I walked by. Hope you all like. Shot Details:ISO 200, FL 105mm, F5.6, SS 1/250 sec. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bb29cbd5d6a787954a97619a0e9101e8297d985cb3e5a8d7c01dbad550630451.jpg
Brilliant Denis….a striking image! Well done 🙂
Rerro. Many thanks for that feedback.
Denis, nice picture. There is a lot of detail and texture on the petals. Personally I find the petals of the flower(s) behind a bit disturbing.
Christian. Many thanks for that feedback.
Denis well done. I have a love for lilies and this is just a beautiful capture.
Sara. many thanks for your feedback as always.
Denis
very nice shot, the textures are beautiful.
Juan. Many thanks for the feedback.
Wow @denisobyrne:disqus, that’s beautiful! I think I am getting this whole black and white thing. By taking away the color, you can really focus on the picture. Great capture!
Chris. Many thanks for your feedback.
Lovely shot Denis. Nice contrast between lily and the dark leaves. Sharp capture.
Romy, Many thanks for the feedback.
Yes, the textures and detail in this shot are really nice! You might try a tighter crop to reduce the background distractions and open up the blacks just a bit to get a little more detail in the stamens. Love it!
Brenda. Many thanks for that feedback and thoughts. Good suggestions.
Looks beautiful as a b &w Denis.
Keri. Many thanks for that feedback.
Denis, Looks great as a black and white and I can just imagine the beautiful colors that it really has. Like the contrasting colors.
Jeff. Many thanks for the feedback.
Hi Denis – this lily is a great subject to highlight the power of contrasts between light and dark. Very nice image!
Tree Lights
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6e684e57413b98cb2a1837e295ebec6d477202d4187a35410557c606c5b3978c.jpg
M4/3 f2.8 1/8 sec. ISO 200 25mm
Michael interesting shot. I am distracted by the “Y” branch hanging down left of center. Not sure what your point of interest is as there is so much going on. That being said, the lights are moody and the DOF is good.
Yes, I think you are correct, there is no real single point of interest. When you walk past the tree you are immediately impressed by the glowing lights. I am attaching two more images:
a. a view of the complete tree, which I hope gives an impression of the spectacle.
b. a more abstract view (which may be the best presentation). https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0452f0156a7a8aa045c6851cf57276c10ec5cdb1c00e6234c53cec877bd4251c.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/243e99c83e3fe914631bdee2de2ea23631b5a8cd4097c847b43d6d9394eb4478.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0452f0156a7a8aa045c6851cf57276c10ec5cdb1c00e6234c53cec877bd4251c.jpg
the tree is the single point of interest, great image
Michael, I like this image much better. You have the POI and a bit more perspective. I do like the abstract image as well. Well done.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6cabb5b0c9ec3c65599c39f1e638822dfa40ca7ff88061cb3669ee9ae3d547dd.jpg
very nice shot Michael. How is this without that upside-down Y in the front. L https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/09b7c5d0b5f4e740c614ebd9d89418a832902440d5d6186b89fb9581c8c41f39.jpg earning Photoshop
Thanks – a recalcitrant branch I think.
I like this a lot, with or without the “Y” it doesn’t distract, to me.
Great shot Michael. I am reminded of a tree with plenty of fireflies in my hometown in the Philippines. Well done.
Early morning image taken at Wyaralong Dam near Brisbane. The reflection of the trees and the mist in the background had a very calming effect. Originally shot in colour and converted to B&W in Lightroom.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e2010a6b92f6ea45b0ad29f14dae705e30e25a3eb8365d4f6037c81a9739c990.jpg
Great reflections Andrew. Well done.
Andrew, very nice picture. As the branches of the left tree is tilting to the left, more space at the left would give more tranquility in your composition. I like very much the reflection of the trees in the water. Indeed the mist adds great value. Well done.
Andrew, lovely job. I would agree with Cristian about a little more space on the left. But it is a personal preference. Very well done.
Andrew. Lovely water and reflections. I like the tones throughout. The mist is a very nice added bonus. Well done.
Andrew, beautiful shot. Would place on my wall
Beautiful restful image Andrew – lovely composition and balance. Works well in B&W
Wow – I love the somber mood, the fog, the reflections and the symmetry! Great shot!
I love the picture!
Nice job. I love the reflections.
Andrew, like this a lot, good subject for B&W. Great reflections and I really like the mist behind the trees. Good job Sir.
Beautiful shot Andrew. Nice reflections and serene mood. Maybe you can adjust the horizon a bit. It seems the right side is a bit higher or are my eyes deceiving me. Just a suggestion. Well done.
Beautiful, I love bare trees and reflections.
nice reflections and mood
Great shot, Andrew. The reflections, textures, and the things lurking in the mist tell a mysterious story.
Really like the mood this creates as well as the great reflections!
Great symmetry, and nice use of B/W in your image. I like the fog in the background which has a mysterious feel to it. Well done.
The reflections and gradual variation of tone in the sky are so beautiful in this photo, Andrew. I really like it. The trees are very strong elements against the muted tones of the background and water.
For this contribution, I toke a page from Judy Wards book. I took a close up of a Lyerbird’s feather, laying on a near white surface, sunlit through a window.
Converted to B&W in Affinity Photo and then inverted so get the black background.
50mm manual lense, Tv, Auto ISO. f/1.4, 1/800 sec, ISO 640.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e170523c62ad1ab319c9388af67856abff73e11effce35c8cd94b77fd14ca34e.jpg
Rachel, Cool. I like the detail and the composition. Not sure if a little more space would be better on the left or not? Lovely.
Thanks Sara.
Rachel. Very creative altogether. Well done.
Thanks dennis.
Love the textures and patterns in this Rachel.
Thanks Tessa.
Brilliant choice for B&W. Wonderful detail in the feather. The end of the feather on the left looks a tad blown out and missing detail. Can’t make up my mind if this is a depth of field issue or a lighting problem. Other than that a great photo.
Thanks David. Actually the end of the feather is very dark and does lack detail.
Hi Rachel. A creative way to photograph a feather. Well done.
Thanks Romy!
Very creative. I like that you can see the lines in the feather so clearly, Well done.
Thanks Jeff.
Oooh, love the textures and details in this shot Rachel. Also the way you’ve composed it – leading my eye in from the bottom left is very thoughtful. How to improve? I think maybe the highlights are a little too bright especially at the end of the feather where you’re losing detail a little. Well done. Brent
Thanks Brent. I’ve tried getting more detail in that feather tip, to no avail. It is curved and, depending on the angle, you don’t see detail. I’m going to have to try and re-shoot it.
The composition is really nice with the natural curve of the feather leading us through the image. I hope you enjoyed the process of trying this different technique, Rachel. It’s not too hard and the results can be so surprising. I noticed you have posted another feather photo later, and agree the detail is better in that one. From your notes there, I understand that lighting the top of the feather was key to capturing better detail. I’ve done a similar thing with some of my practice shots where I used a white poster board to reflect some light back onto the subject. Amazing what a difference that can make in the detail that is captured.
Hello, that’s an “on top of the world” photograph, showing father and son on one of the Iceland mountains https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/63c7a3d398008468fe1e71d6e2adc7cd6c99169e0bfbbeb5e1cb6b80b559745f.jpg Fuji XT2, 16 mm, f22, 1/30 sec.
Hans. Great texture and tones in the rocks. Great shot in very challenging conditions. Well done.
Hans great detail, I feel it is a little dark. Personal opinion.
I’m sorry, but this is not the photo I see on my computer. It’s an image, but not the true photograph.
Hans a super shot. Great contrast and texture. Who took the shot or was it a tripod and self timer?
You can see the remote control?
yes on his Right hand when you do a closeup
very nice shot. I was going to ask about “the self timer” but noticed the dad holding the remote, nicely done
Hans, this a great picture. Great composition with a lot of structure with the rocks in the foreground and the impressive clouds. Your picture succeeded very good. I wouldn’t know if I didn’t see the remote control in the hand of the father. Well done.
Hi Hans. Beautiful capture and composition. Nice texture of the rocks and the sky was amazing. Great job.
Love this @hans_joachim_hindenburg:disqus, great capture. You can sense the feeling of completion. Love the sky as well. We don’t have enough people photos here. I know I never take them.
Hans..You have captured a precious moment here . Beautiful detail, great emotion and story . Love this.
Well done Hans. I like how the sky patterns are so wispy, and the rocks are so jagged and hard looking. Nice use of B/W, with the slight greys infused.
What a fantastic portrait – wow! Love how you’ve got father and son sitting on those textured rocks and how they’re so much darker than their surroundings. Also the side-light really helps with the textures and adding that “outdoorsey, rugged” feeling to their faces. My only suggestion is maybe the dark sky is too dark, especially over the clouds. Well done. Brent
Thank’s for your support. You are right with the darkness above, it’s the ND filter, it was to much.
At a restaurant this weekend and thought this white plate on a white tablecloth might be an interesting B&W subject. 32mm @ISO 100, 1/125 sec @ f/40. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/77c4680ce14352c435bd4729554bd88f2484aee579891a888e96e7f186877ba1.jpg
Yes, indeed an interesting subject – extremely clear and sharp. Have you experimented with different levels of contrast?
Sig, thanks for the feedback. I did play with the contrast some in Lightroom and ended up here. More contrast washed out the detail in the strawberries and with less contrast I did not like the blacks as much. I suppose I could go to Photoshop and work on the contrast is specific areas of the image; I would like to do some work just on the berries.
Here is a version where I used Photoshop to adjust brightness and contrast just in the area of the strawberries. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/82257a75abdbd0fb52086b5f5bf803e74b2e7b3c7ded3acea4ae81b237b97831.jpg
I like this version of lightening the strawberries a bit
Steve. While both shots are excellent, my preference is the second post. I think the light and structure is more balanced. Well done on the adjustment.
I also like the second image better – great job!
The second version is better. Good job Steven.
This one is my preferred version. Brightening the strawberries was a good move. It gives more some mid tones to the image, and to me this feels more balanced. I like your choice of subject, too. The food looks delicious, but I’m going through a ‘high key’ phase right now, so I like the bright plate on the bright background. as a composition choice.
Interesting subject. Well done.
Hi Steven. Nice shot and interesting subject. Well done.
Very nice @disqus_UyswuW5MDS:disqus, great subject.
Hello everyone. I’m new to Bootcamp and am gradually getting into the swing of things. This is a shot of some asparagus I took last year while I was getting Sunday dinner. It was taken in colour, but I thought it worked better in B&W. Canon 750D 1/50 sec f16 ISO 12800 55 mm.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/758baec9c2d518adb395a31df5e2aa558bf2cd25971c851b4c1b296207c02a0f.jpg
Tessa welcome to Bootcamp! Interesting shot. I like the light reflecting off the asparagus.
Hi Tessa, really like your photo, it has really nice texture and nice light falling onto your subject. Good job.
Tessa, there is a lot of texture. I like the repeating structure. Nice B&W picture.
Interesting shot Tessa. Did you have an external light available? I would have tried lowering the ISO to avoid the noise and open the lens to an f/4
Hi Juan. Thanks for your comments. I used only the natural light from the kitchen window for this and didn’t want to add any artificial light as I wanted to keep it soft – it literally was a quick shot while I was getting dinner! I confess I quite like the grainy effect from the noise.
Thanks Tessa. That is the important thing is for you to like the picture and how it was visualized at that moment. We are just Monday morning quarterbacks thinking of “how it would look if…” thanks and welcome to Bootcamp. Looking forward to seeing more of your work as we all venture through our journey
Tessa. First off welcome to Bootcamp. I hope you get lots of enjoyment out of it. Very interesting shot and works well in B/W/. Good tones and texture. Well done. I look forward to seeing more of your posts.
Hi Tessa. Welcome to Bootcamp. Interesting shot.
Hi Tessa, welcome to Bootcamp. Love this photo. I am cooking that tonight and would never have thought to take a picture of it. Great capture.
Very interesting shot and I really like the composition/cropping. Have you tried the noise reduction in Lightroom or photoshop? Looks like it could be improved with a fairly heavy dose of luminance noise reduction without sacrificing the details. Everything else is outstanding!
Thanks Steve! I left the noise in, as I quite liked the grainy “old fashioned” effect that it produces in this shot. I’ve adjusted in Lightroom a little – too much and the asparagus starts to look slimy! See what you think. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2e5ab9488e4fa6305b5cf754d4f5c5971432cf25b190e9723159afb092c50043.jpg
Now I understand why you left the noise in – it does add some artistic value, while the noise-reduced photo would be great for product photography. Either way, I think you nailed the composition aspects and the B&W treatment works very nicely.
I love seeing ordinary subjects look beautiful – good job here in capturing and interesting and well balanced image. Slimy asparagus is not good. I think it’s better to have some noise if that fits with your artistic vision. The noise doesn’t bother me in the least in this image. As @disqus_GS4axOeNE1:disqus has also commented, you may have been able to reduce the noise from the higher ISO with a larger aperture – f8 probably would have still captured the sharpness for the asparagus and strainer. If you were getting dinner, you probably didn’t have time to experiment with several different settings at the time 🙂
Welcome, Tessa! Great composition, contrast, and texture in this shot… and a unique subject matter. 🙂
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e80b3923a370cafe3b14f2af8198b0a8d49542c9764c3cd8d9e5cd6fa06d5edd.jpg
We have had lots of rain which is a good thing with the fires. But it is hard on the internet when you have satellite. So it let up and I went for a backroads run.
ISO 100 170mm f/11 1/80 sec
Hi Roseann, Did you take this picture out of a moving vehicle? It appears to be out of focus. What settings did you use?
Roseann, did you take the shot whilst you were running? It looks a little blurred to me. Was the flag your POI? Your focal length is too long for a 1/80 second SS. It should have been at least equal to your lense length. It is obvious that you are passionate about photography and I look forward to many more submissions. Well done you.
Roseann. Nice lines and angles in this shot if a little blurred most likely caused by the slow ss and fl as suggested by David Robinson. That said I think your effort is very good given the conditions you describe. Well done.
Here’s my second submission for B&W Challenge. It’s always rush hour in San Francisco. Shot at 1/60 sec, @ f/11, ISO 100, 57 mm (FE24-70 mm F2.8 GM) https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/58bbbd1128ecdb710b8a88da621b688093a93801f9d583912f549028a894e55c.jpg
Love it @disqus_VMEwMaCfC1:disqus, I’m on the peninsula and it’s always crowded here too. But now that you have captured it, I love the detail in the freeway supports on the sides, very nice. Great capture.
Richard, with this B&W picture you got the crowds with the cars as your POI. The leading lines with those Well done.pillars at both sides give it more depth at our view. Well done.
Richard. Good capture. The light, and tones are nicely balanced. The lines and angles are clean. Good use of Depth of Field. Very well balanced shot. Well done.
This is one where the vast array of colors would detract from the photo. By making it B&W, the composition stands out more, and the composition is very good. Leading lines of the architecture enhances the vanishing point created by the merging traffic. THIS is what B&W photography is all about, in my opinion.
Richard, well done. Lots of detail and the tones are well balanced. Nice job.
Nicely done Richard. I live in the Bay Area too and am way too familiar with this image. I too like the leading lines to the middle and the symmetry of the vertical lines of the overpass supports.
A really lovely shot. It always surprises me how lovely the everyday can be! Love the strong lines, texture and midtones.
That ride doesn’t look fun. Haha. Great lines that lead my eyes upward to the top of the road. The pillars make a strong statement on how sturdy the bridge is. Well done.
Richard, I like the repetition of the supports and the detail on their surface. Very effective.
Trying to squeeze two photos in one submission, same subject, same location but the compositions evoke two completely different emotions, at least to me. The settings on first are 1/90 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400 and gives a dark, moody feel and the framing gives the impression that the subject is sinking into a dark depression. The settings on the second are 1/45 sec, f 5.6 ISO 80. I get more of a forward-looking sense of hope from this one, as if the darkness is being left behind.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f752dc7543cfb8961c7e052ed0ff7a127e51853eac410d90021bed71a7a4f2ff.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/595ff1a931200dda5e6cea036b031a665b6e725d94013ab5be786252358a30f2.jpg
Steve
this is a really nice picture with the light coming in through the shade. I tend not to cut through people’s chin. One of my mentors told me that she usually does not cut through peoples joints or chin. did your model have a long beard?
The crop is right at the edge of the beard, but close enough that it adds interest by making you wonder. The length of the beard can be see in the second photo. Thank you for your comments, and for passing along the tip from your mentor.
I agree with you. I like the first picture more. Besides it is nice to break the rules once you know what they are. great job
Steve, both pictures are good. You used very good the incoming light. The lines of shadow/light give a special effect. I can see your first picture as one to put on the cover of a CD box. Perhaps an extra crop above (as you did with the beard) and a bit on the right.The second one is more intimate. Well done.
Steve. Two good shots with different tones, light and perspective. I have to agree it is very good use of natural light but on a personal basis I found the shadows on the faces a little distracting. Of the two shots my preference is the second. Well done.
Thanks for the comments! I saw the shadows on the face as representative of the “prison bars” feeling of depression, but I agree it does break up/mask the textures of the skin which would make for a great photo themselves in another context.
Steve, echoing the comments below, nice use of natural light.
very well done, the images are what you felt on shooting, and shows in the results.
Yes, love the two similar compositions with different effect! I love the mood of the first one, but I really like the details captured in the face in the second one.
Both photos are really good! Love the way the shadows changed and completely altered the moods. Can’t decide which one I like best. Great Job!
Wow, great portraits. Personally I like the dark one, I think because of the extra diagonals of light to the right.
Great portraits @disqus_0mZTVOIKLI:disqus, I really love the first, darker one. It’s moody but i love the lines.
Very interesting portraits Steve, and it shows how much light effects the mood of an image. The first image is much more moody for me – and I like it for that feeling. Works well with your subject because he’s a bit older and with the beard looks “weathered” (don’t tell him that). The 2nd looking into the light is a classic front-lit portrait and normally works well for glamour portraits and making people look smooth and young. I also like how the first image is much darker than the 2nd and I can see how it makes you feel. Well done. Only piece of advice is use faster shutter speed to stop that slight bit of camera shake (or head movement) when shooting people. Brent
Steve, I also like them both, and they each convey a different mood. You’ve used the lighting and angle of your subject very effectively in these images to evoke a response from the viewer. The B&W treatment enhances the impact of the light vs shadows.
Hi all. Three more shots for this challenge. Many thanks for your comments on my last post. This shot was spotted by my sister in law. Got down flat and took the shot. Yes the foliage around is not sharp as the POI is and in that sense I got what I was looking for. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cc8d7b253565df1dab78aea88d62cc7c6d29003de1324d412d9b798749046f12.jpg Look forward to your feedback. Shot Details: ISO 800, FL 200mm, F8, SS 1/40 sec.
Denis, good picture. The bird is a mittle bit lost in the background, but in this case I don’t have a problem. Personally I would crop a bit from the bottom and the left to fill more bird in the pricture. You still will have space in the view direction. The bird has great texture on the feathers. Well done.
Christian. Many thanks for that constructive feedback. I was considering your thoughts as I posted and will look at them later in the day.
I would agree with Christian about cropping a bit from the bottom. Great shot.
Karen. Many thanks for the feedback.
Denis Nice shot. Where you using a tripod? the birds eye is a bit off focus but it was probably a difficult shot since birds in the wild are unpredictable.
Well done Denis. I agree about taking a little off the bottom. Personal preference. Great composition.
Sara. Many thanks for that feedback.
Denis. I like the way the you have it. I think the out of focus foreground and background really give the picture nice depth. I would not crop it at all because I like how everything is out of focus except the subject of the image, and because of that my eye was immediately drawn to the bird. I personally like it the way it is. Excellent!
Jim. many thanks for that feedback.
Hi Denis – I think your depth of field is perfect for this type of shot, and the composition is nice. A faster shutter speed would have helped get that bird a tad more sharp, but you did great to get it as sharp as you did with that focal length at 1/40 sec.
Balancing stones..taken at a forest mountain resort in our hometown. Still using my phone since I don;t have a DSLR camera lol.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/89fb0a280f3c05c37b745da563da2102d762cea9c1feb7a6e343a0ab6d143a53.jpg
Nice picture Hazel. As they always say, the best camera is the one you have with you at the time of capture. Great job.
yeah…thanks Romy 🙂
The shadows created 2 little characters. The “arm” on the bottom rock with the flat stone like a head. the shadows on the top 4 stones make it look like a little animal. Love it.
Thanks Karen. I did not notice that until now 🙂
Hazel. Great shot with nice tones. Well done.
I like the many different shades of grey you’ve captured here Hazel. An interesting shot, and well captured with a phone camera.
Thanks Tessa 🙂
Very nice shot Hazel. Don’t feel bad that it is with a phone. I have seen award winning pictures taken with a phone. That is a course all on its own.
great job. Are you able to shoot in raw?
Thanks Juan. I shot this in colored and converted it to B&W in Photoshop. 🙂
Great shot of the cairn. Really nice depth of field.
thanks Sara 🙂
Hi Hazel – I like taking picture of balancing stones! People set them up in the most interesting places. My suggestion for next time is to see if a different angle helps your subject stand out. In this case, getting down low may have put the darker bushes behind the balancing stones and helped differentiate them from the boulders in the background.
Hi everyone, sorry for not posting or replying to photos the past week. I have and am still pretty sick. Will go thru the pictures and post replies as I can. Thanks!
Get well soon, Barbara.
Quick healing, Barbara.
Barbara. Wishing you a full recovery.
Feel better Barbara. Get well soon.
Get well soon.
Get well
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Thanks
Thank you Chris
I was away for a week with very limited wifi. I’ll get caught up with the photo comments now that I’m home. I spent 1 whole day shooting B&W but I haven’t found them to process yet. I got designated as the official event photographer after the trip was over, so I’m trying to get through all the photos I took and waiting for others to send theirs so I can do a slideshow and video. At least, I know that no photos exist from when I fell in the water getting into the bow of the canoe.
Karen. Sounds like you had a great time. Well done on taking on the Event Photographer. A lot of organising ahead.
Oh no – you fell in. Did you camera survive? Brent
I left my Sony in the van but I did have my Samsung Galaxy 9 in my pocket – in a plastic bag. The bag had a hole in it and water/sand got in but I had it turned it off so no zapping. I didn’t open the bag while canoeing because I didn’t dare rock the canoe. I shook the sand out and set it upright and only a few drops of water came out I waited about an hour and then I turned it on. It was fine. sign of relief. I hadn’t been in a canoe since I was 8 which was many, many years ago but I found it easy once I got into the canoe. I shot in B&W for an entire day but haven’t had time to view or work on them yet. Hopefully this weekend I can lock myself away and get my photos processed. I got through the 1st day’s photos. Used your landscape presets on a few.
Can’t wait to see your images – and glad your phone survived. Brent
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f6a1291040b7106b854bbce2aed5a44e5f9bd81dc2a0c5524583a93c641b20fa.jpg “NOLA Shotgun House” was taken just a block or so off Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, New Orleans, LA this past weekend. This typical “Shotgun House” is a narrow rectangular domestic residence, usually not more than 12 feet wide, has rooms arranged one behind the other and a door at each end of the house. The shadows, sun and clouds behind the house highlighted the changing weather of the day. Shot with my Sony a6000 with 16-50mm lens, set at 20mm, f/5.6 @ 1/500 sec, ISO 100. Originally post processed with Lightroom in color, then rendered in Black & White using “Dramatic Black & White” software.
B&W really brings out the textures and shadows on the house. The sky looks pretty good too.
Very well done Eugene. I like the drama in the sky. I am not totally sold on the contrast at the moment, but it is a nice effect. Personal preference. Well done.
Eugene. Quite a dramatic shot that has a HDR feel to it. You show the different tones very well here in my opinion. Well done.
Love the textures in this… especially those on the front wall and doors. Thanks for providing a bit of background info, too. I’d never heard the term “Shotgun house”.
Good choice for black and white as it creates a feel of a totally different era! The textures in the wood really pop.
Great textures on old paint and wood. Personally, I find the sky a little distracting and would tone it down a little, but lovely shot.
Great capture @eugenebrannan:disqus – I loved visiting New Orleans because of these types of old homes and the grubby authentic feeling of the place. Love the textures in your image, it communicates that feeling to me especially because it’s black and white. I’m wondering if a full-frontal shot might work here, with a portrait crop to hide the homes of the sides? Great work. Brent
New Orleans has been on my list of places to go for sometime now but this picture has solidified it for me. Love the textures in the wood framing and shutters. Great capture.
Cool photo. It almost looks like the middle building is drawn in with a pencil, which works really well in B/W.
The texture in that paint is fantastic! The detail in this image is amazing. I’m with @brentmail:disqus in that I think a shot directly from the front, cropped to just the central building would be very effective.
Taken at Priest Lake, Idaho on 70-200mm lens at f32, 1/80sec, ISO 100. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9b79c43ce76d7b2230052016c39c1b6696c3a4768b22d31543347cf0cfaf5437.jpg
beautiful shot Kathleen. That cloud looks like a dragon
Kathleen. lovely tree line and sky. Great tones and balance in this shot. Well done.
great capture of clouds, well done.
Kathleen well done. Such a dramatic photo.
Wow, hope you guys are safe over there. Great capture… I think the B/W brings a lot of mood to the shot.
Nice capture of the clouds. Wasn’t sure at first if it was smoke or clouds.
Hi Kathleen. Very nice capture of dramatic (and turbulent?) cloud formation. Are you sure the lake is not a volcanic crater ? Beautiful image. Well done.
Dramatic clouds and that silhouetted horizon is what makes this shot so good @kathleenfeeley:disqus because it gives everything perspective. Well done. Brent
I like this photo how you shot the tree line and the clouds just above it. Great use of contrasting B/W colors. Well done Kathleen.
I thought I should post a shot that I actually I took for Bootcamp. Canon 750D 1/125sec f/11 ISO 100 90mm using on-camera speedlite. I upped the contrast and adjusted the tone curve in Lightroom. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/32a5755490152a85b5cabe4cb5043b840f4487f77a977051089577477c2b2e3f.jpg
Tessa this picture is great. love the various shades.
Tessa. A lovely shot. Great shades and lovely light and balance through out. Well one.
I absolutely love this. Is the background actually black? It really makes the flower pop out. The focus is ‘tack sharp’ as our mentor likes to say. The slight asymmetry to the flower also adds interest. Well done!
Hi Steve. The background was the dining room table, which is mahogany, but it converts to a great black background in B&W.
Good job
Really nice and artistic shot Tessa. Love the contrast and the composition. I didn’t really notice the texture in the pedals until I enlarged the image. Lends itself really well to B&W. Beautiful image!
Well done. At first glance I thought it might be a hosta. Beautiful job.
Normally when I think of flowers, I think of color. However, this image works great in black & white because of the whites on the edges of the flower. Well done Tessa!
This is great! The white edges and center really highlight the shapes in the flower. Nice Job.
Another Tessa! Hello. Great shot, the two toned petals and the curls keep the eye moving around the picture.
Hi Tessa! It’s not often I meet another one 🙂
Beautiful image Tessa. The flower with its white edges stand out from the black background. Great job.
Wow, this is great, Tessa. Beautifully sharp, and it really pops on the black background. Well done.
Tessa, nice picture. Beautiful to see this flower against a black background. Nice petals with that white edge on them. Well done.
That’s what makes this shot for me – those white edges @tessablewchamp:disqus excellent capture. Also that black background makes your flower really pop! You should print this one for sure. Brent
Thanks Brent – might just do that!
So sharp and crisp. Love the dark background too.
Wow, great lines with contrasting colors. I bet the original colors were amazing. Very cool photo.
Thanks Jeff! It was just a humble purple and white chrysanthemum that looks a lot more dramatic in B&W.
Gosh, this is beautiful! Was this shot inside? Really love the contrast in the darker petals and the light.
Lovely.
Hi Sheree. Yes, it was shot indoors on the dining table. I put the flower in a really small vase, so that I could just have the bloom in shot. I cloned out the stem in Lightroom.
Beautiful image and a great flower for B&W. Great work
This is stunning, Tessa. Love the powerful contrasts of the black background with the white edges of the petals. The fact that you also have mid tones from the inside of each petal balances it out very nicely.
Thanks Judy
Here’s a shot of a back alley in The Old Sugar Mill, Clarksburg, California. It was built in 1934 as an operating beet sugar refinery and now it houses tasting rooms from 15 different area wineries. I liked how it felt old to me and I wanted to capture that, but I didn’t have my camera so I shot it with my iPhone anyway. Settings were ISO 20, 3.99mm, f1.8 & 1/2000 sec.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/455a3441c6ec8364a834657713afe9a16c47d301a515ffcd6bf12150bdfbac62.jpg
Well done. I like the lines and texture.
Hi Jim. This photo is best in B & W. Nice texture and contrast. Well done.
Jim. Great shot on the phone. I like the clean line lines you show throughout. Well done.
Jim, nice picture with a lot of lines and texture. Personally I would have taken equally path in the foreground and sky as the buildings are your POI. Well done.
You did capture the old feeling of the buildings even with an Iphone. Well done Jim. Nice use of lines along with the scaffolding in the back.
For once, my cat Silver sat still long enough for me to grab a shot of him enjoying the sun. I wanted to capture the texture of his fur in the light, which stands out much better in B/W. Settings: in-camera B/W profile, ISO400, 1/10 (risky, I know), f5.6, 105mm. I’m in the process of transferring computers this week, so plan to lighten a few areas when I get Lightroom back. Looking forward to your critiques so I can improve the shot. Thx https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e32a477966b0a4a099e56791ada9bc27804098bc81464b53da9ee2d21c42e98f.jpg
Awwww, Silver looks like he does a lot of sitting still. You have indeed captured the texture of the fur. I don’t know that I would lighten anything, but am interested to see the results.
Very nice shot of a beautiful creature. The eyes are tack sharp. My humble suggestions darken the background some more to bring out the cat. If you made some cropping of this photo try to reposition so that the eyes are aligned with the upper third. Just my suggestions. Great image Brenda.
Brenda. Very good B/W shot. Love the eyes – very well captured. The tone and light balance is great throughout. Well done.
Hi Brenda. Well captured – I know how unobliging cats can be! I agree with Romy that you might want to darken the background a little to reduce the distraction, but the face and expression are beautifully framed. Not sure anything needs lightening – maybe try upping the contrast a little to bring out the definition?
Brenda, what a face! Well done. I am not much for cats ( I am allergic), but nice job.
Awww, kitty!! I love his whiskers and sweet nose.
Sweet little baby. He has this look like “ok, just this one photo”. Great clarity on his eyes and fur. I like the grey tones in there as well.
Thanks for all of the feedback and comments. Here’s an updated version with a darkened background and slightly increased contrast. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f4c93fd70ebf0d158b693315aa971b8d08582a9f09b898e77078a7727102bc56.jpg
I shot this in color, but converted it to b&w and made some adjustments in contrast and clarity in Lightroom to bring out more of the details in the clouds. After having done so, I noticed quite a difference in the total “feel” of the image. Thank you for allowing me to share. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bc6901a4414bc781d8786d7a87f806f7a2a71cab097010dcb37c3cee2984411e.jpg
Wow….brilliant image Napoleon….and fantastic in B&W. I love the movement in the clouds and the detail in the building is really nicely done. Very good indeed!
Thanks Rerro, it was serendipity! The B&W conversion worked better as you mentioned. My color version not so much.
A beautiful image, the clouds really add some drama and make it dynamic.
Thank you Tessa 🙂
This a great image Napoleon. Good job with those adjustments. The clouds provided the added drama to an already beautiful picture.
Glad you like it Romy, thanks!
Wow Napoleon. This is just spectacular. Well Done!!!
Thanks Keri! A little skill and lot of good luck I guess 🙂
Great shot, love the drama in the clouds.
Thank you Janet, glad you liked it 🙂
Such a great image, Napoleon. So much detail, and beautiful composition. I love how the clouds and the side buildings & trees appear to have the same vanishing point.
Thank you Kerrie. Good mention of the vanishing point. I haven’t thought of that. 🙂
Napoleon. What a lovely shot. Works very well in B/W. The detail is great as is the cloud formation. The shot has a very nice balance and feel to it. Well done.
Thank you very much Denis!
Napoleon, very nice picture. Great betails in the building. Nice clouds. At first sight I thought this was a long exposure picture. But I see you took it at 1/800. Were these clouds as we see it in your picture or was there some adjustment? If so how did you do?
Thank you Christian. The clouds are as they were when I took the photo. When I took the photo, my main focus was the building. The clouds just came out more distinct when I converted it from color to B&W and I loved the effect it had. I just played around with the contrast and clarity sliders in Lightroom to even make more distinct. 🙂
Great image Napoleon. B&W brings out the detail in the architecture and I love the way the clouds draw the eye to the building.
Thanks Tessa. I believe that’s why I find myself more partial to B&W most times when I take architectural photos. The clouds were serendipitous happenstance. 🙂
Napoleon great job. I love the detail. Well done indeed.
Thank you Sara 🙂
Wow, wow, wow!!! What an amazing image. Love the symmetry you’ve captured here and that sky – OMG those clouds really focus my attention on the structure. Excellent work – no need to do anything more except print this on fine art “photo-rag” paper and frame it! Brent
Thank you so much Brent! :)))
WOW!! Beautiful image, great capture!!! It’s a beautiful building to be sure but I love the sky most.
Thank you Chris! 🙂
Napoleon, what a shot. I just love the way the clouds radiate away from the building and act as leading lines to the building itself. The picture is well balanced and has nice tones. Personally I find the whole image a little bright and feel the image could be enhanced by bringing down the highlights a little. I guess the ultimate complement is that I wish this was one of my images. Well done Sir.
Thank you David for your honest critique. I’m glad you like it, cheers! 🙂
How cool is this. I love the way the clouds are so striking but it doesn’t take away from the building itself. They each have their own place in this photo. Well done.
True Jeff, the elements all have their role. Thanks!
Very powerful image! I love the leading lines all over this image pointing directly to your main subject, along with the motion in the clouds. Black and white really works for this image.
Thanks so much Deby! 🙂
Wow! This is such an incredible photo! just amazing!
Thank you very much Sheree!
Wonderful image and you got even the sky to cooperate in creating leading lines! Absolutely love this
Thank you Erez! The clouds were a little difficult to tame, but I got them in line LOL 🙂
This really is an amazing image Napoleon. Excellent job in post. The detail of the clouds and the leading lines in the smaller buildings and the clouds really direct the eye to building. Beautiful!!
Thank you so much Jim! 🙂
This image has a 3D feel and those clouds are pure magic. This is terrific. The B&W conversion is nicely balanced to bring out the highlights in the building and the sky.
Thank you so much Judy!
It looks like a painting. Great symmetry. Great camera work.
Thank you Hans! As far as symmetry, I purposely made sure I was dead center. If I was at an angle it may not worked as well.
I walk under this old railway bridge on one of my dog walks. This is an old colour photo that I have converted to B&W for bootcamp. The settings are 1/160 sec f5.6 and iso 100. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/deebd9d8894f3da9d81443ed8810e9e66b5d3c296efd95e7af235254a9b723e1.jpg
Hi Tessa. Nice contrast and texture. Good job.
Tessa. Nice textures and contrasting tones in this shot. I like they way the light plays out on the wall. Well done.
Tessa, nice picture with the contrast light/shadow. There is a lot of texture. You took it in a creative way. Well done.
I love the way you’ve created something intriguing and beautiful out of something quite ordinary. The lines and textures are brought out really well in B&W and the angle of the shot adds interest. Although it was evidently sunny when the shot was taken, I think B&W changes the mood and gives the picture a more sombre and almost eerie feeling, which makes the viewer more involved. Well done.
Tessa Well done. I like the lines and texture, the angle of the photo keeps it from being ordinary.
Very nice @tessablewchamp:disqus, great texture and lines. Love the crop as well.
Love your choice of angle Tessa, along with texture and lines.
B&W definitely shows off the texture in the wall and rail lines. Good use of angle of view, too, to make the image more interesting.
Hi Everyone. Again the pictures have been beautiful, amazing and so incredible. Well done to you all and thank you for sharing such inspiring photos. I thought I would have a go at a portrait. People are not my thing but I though this came out pretty. Shot in colour and converted. Let me know your thoughts. 1/60, f/5.6, iso 1600 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4ed1b77b41715385ba05c1f99d39e4076829630ccc176180d27d46d9f2a46dc8.jpg
A tender and reflective moment. Nice lighting on the face Keri. Great job.
Keri. A lovely tranquil shot. The lighting and tones are well balanced throughout. Well done.
Keri, very nice picture. I love the light and tones. Personally I would give just enough space on the left to see all the hair on the forehead. Well done.
Keri, I find it a very nice picture. Great light and tones. The whole picture gives a peaceful feeling. Well done.
Very nice portrait. Great tonal range, and composition is great. Nice job!
Lovely shot. Very nice soft light on the face.
Well done Keri.
Hi Keri. I like the angle of the face and the lighting. The fact that the subject is not looking at the camera has the affect of drawing the viewer into the picture.
Keri well done. People are not my thing either. The lighting is lovely and very flattering. Well thought out and composed.
Nice portrait, Keri. The lighting is soft and flattering, and I love the way it catches the highlights in her hair. Well done.
Well done for trying something new. Love the feeling you’ve captured here, contemplative. Is this a wedding? Something to think about is that hard light on the side of her face closest to the camera. Try to soften the light like I mentioned in @denisobyrne:disqus image above. Well done. Brent
Beautiful portrait @keridown:disqus, portraits also not my thing but I am going to try to take some…
This is a really nice portrait of this young lady. Nice use of lines on the face and neck line. Good clarity on her face.
Nice shot, and good for you for stepping outside the box! I really do like this portrait……
Lovely portrait and an interesting crop. People are not my thing too, but your shot, along with few others here are inspiring. I’m going to try that too.
Hi Keri – this is a lovely picture. It is very soft and gentle. To me, it looks like the hair above her temple is the area with the sharpest focus, and I prefer the eyes of any living subject to be perfectly sharp. Your artistic vision may have been deliberate to have that dreamy softness around her eyes, though.
Hi All. May thanks for your contributions to my post of yesterday. I have left Blarney Gardens for the present. Will post more in the Passion Project over the next while. Have arrived in Galway on a visit to my Brother and Sister in Law’s family. This shot is a Portrait of my Grand Nephew of 21/2 years. This has a particular resonance for me in that Seth was premature and survived a lot of ordeals to be where he is today. Shot details: ISO 400, FL92mm, F8, SS1/20 sec. I am way out of my comfort zone trying this. I look forward to your feedback as always. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bd15f422b4a1271bf594abf8286a9e971b13b792fec1b855ef622ab37be19d60.jpg
Hi Denis. Good head shot, with the face well framed and the eyes beautifully captured. It has an old-fashioned feel about it. What lighting did you use?
Tessa. Many thanks for that feedback. It was an overcast day with soft natural light coming in a window to the left. No artificial lighting. I don’t have any fancy equipment like Box Lights etc. The moment came along and I had the camera to hand.
First of all, Good on ya Seth for being strong and over coming the odds. I like the way his eyes are barely showing, it gives him a mischievously playful look. It works well in B/W, it changes up the story.
Jeff. Many thanks for the feedback. Yes we are all very thankful to have him around.
The soft natural light on Seth’s face is really nice, Denis. You have captured his amazing eyes very well! Was this taken hand held or using a tripod (or some other support)?
Hi all. Many thanks for all the comments/feedback to my post of yesterday. I have left Blarney Gardens and arrived in Galway to pay a well over due visit to my Brother’s family. This next shot is a portrait of my Grand Nephew and has particular resonance for me. Seth was very premature and has survived a lot of ordeals to be with us today. I am out of my comfort zone with this and I look forward to your feedback. Shot details: ISO 400, FL 92mm, F8, SS1/13 sec. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bd15f422b4a1271bf594abf8286a9e971b13b792fec1b855ef622ab37be19d60.jpg
Hi Denis. This is a nice portrait shot. You captured all the emotion in his eyes most specially the ordeals he went through. The eyes say a lot. I also like that instead of taking a frontal shot, his face was positioned at an angle relative to his body.
I suggest that you make a collection of his photos from the time he was still a baby up to time he becomes a young adult. That would be a special project documenting his transition from a frail baby to a healthy young man.
Romy. Many thanks for your feedback. Your suggestion is a very good one which I will take on board.
Great suggestion. Brent
This is a beautiful shot Dennis, This portrait tells a story.
Andrew. Many thanks for that feedback. I kind of like it myself.
Denis, well done. Very compelling image. Lovely tones and balance.
Sara. Many thanks for the feedback.
Dennis, if you are out of your comfort zone with this then I would love to see your comfort zone shots. It’s superb. They always say you should focus on the eyes in portrait photography and his eyes are absolutely tack sharp. Give yourself a pat on the back, well done.
David. Many thanks for those very encouraging words.
Beautiful portrait, Denis. I like the lighting coming from the left side, and the catchlights in his eyes. I can see a bit of flash shadowing, which I think you could avoid by using an off-camera light source. If you have the opportunity to get more shots of him, he’s a wonderful character in your family story!
Brenda. Many thanks for the feedback and very useful tips.
Well done, Denis. Those eyes certainly tell a story.
Kerrie. Many thanks for your feedback.
Glad you’re out of your comfort zone Denis – that’s what this is all about and that’s how you improve the fastest. Firstly, great capture of your grand nephew, he looks super cute. Because I’ve shot thousands of portraits the first thing I noticed was the hard shadow below his chin on the wall. Is this from a flash on the camera – if so then something to try next time is to diffuse that flash a little by bouncing of ceiling or even bouncing off your hand above your camera, this makes the light source relatively large and will soften the light on the boy. Also try a faster shutter speed with kids, they tend to move all the time and crank your ISO up more instead. Well done. Brent
Brent. Many thanks for those tips. Did not see the shadows you are referring to. Hope you are enjoying the holiday.
Great shot @denisobyrne:disqus, I can’t tell you are out of your comfort zone. He looks a bit mischievous.
Chris. Many thanks for your feedback. Yes he does have that look on him.
Beautiful portrait Denies. Be careful with the focus on the eyes. they look a bit blurred. Was he crying?
Juan. Many thanks for that feedback. Well spotted. He was just over a small pout and words from Mam.
So lovely. This shot really brings out his amazing eyes. Really nice portrait.
Deby. Many thanks for that feedback.
Fabulous portrait! Really lovely.
Sheree. Many thanks for the feedback.
Great portrait, very well done
Erez. Many thanks for the feedback.
First I want to thank everyone for the well wishes. Still not doing great but thought I would throw up another black and white photo I took at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. I promise to get to commenting on others new photos as soon as possible. Took this with my D5300 @ f/8, 1/60 sec, ISO 100 at 300mm. I cropped in close and used Silver Efex Pro to turn it into a black and white and did some small adjustments to detail and clarity. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b4bae9eb5e1c7bcd5fcd6ac1b53f37f8b6f5ef5a4f4a19aeb9abf74ce1abc171.jpg
Barbara. Nice shot here. Nice light tones and textures. Well done.
Thanks
Hi Barbara. I really like this shot. The bird is well positioned and the DoF draws the eye to it as the POI. I particularly like the contrast between the lines of the wooden spikes and the rounded shape of the bird.
Great comment @tessablewchamp:disqus – yes I like that too, the contrast between soft and hard. Something to try is to lighten the bird a little more so that it pops more from that background. Love all the lines and textures in your shot. Brent
Thank you so much
Hey, nice piccy
the tones are great and the lines of the timbers draw the eye to the bird
Thank you
Barbara well done. Glad to hear you are feeling better.
Thanks. Actually still sick 🙁
Barbara, nice picture with a lot of texture and tones.
Thank you
Hi Barbara, I am glad you are feeling better. Your photo looks super, so many shapes, textures and lines. Your POI is the bird? Also great depth of field. Well done.
Thank you David
Love this @disqus_ZMqciOxroU:disqus, great lines and texture. Glad you are feeling better.
Thanks Chris
Barbara, Blessings on good health to you. I like the lines of the poles that lead my eyes to the bird. I like the grey tones along with the blacks and whites.
Thank you
Thank you so much Jeff.
Hope you are back to normal soon, Barbara
I love the composition very much, the different shapes and atextures. Well done!
Thanks. Working on getting back to normal.
Love your image with all the lines leading to the bird and the far blurred background adds depth. Hope that you are well by now
Thank you. Trying to get better, slow process
Hope you are feeling a little better each day, Barbara. I really like the composition you have used in this image with the light picking out the edges of the posts. The contrasts in this image are very effective.
Thank you so much Judy. Slowing on the mend I hope. Keep having set backs.
Pompeii
1/400 sec f/11 ISO 200 42mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/371afd362e2d18bff8a1d43e948741a4b1eac916d7e70283150297f91d99b14a.jpg
Andrew. What I particularly like about this shot is the sky. The different light that is at play is very well captured. I might like to see a bit more of the ruins themselves. I think it might enhance the shot further. Well done.
Hi Denis, thankyou for your comments, I agree about seeing more ruins, I have loaded the uncroped version which shows more, unfortunatly I did a lousy job on the horizon when I shot it and I had to crop the ruins to straighten the image. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cba70ba00b5a086ad6157c55dfef88500ffd1de3bc9b7bf9e1b4108bfa6995a0.jpg
Andrew. What a pity. Not to worry it is all about making errors and moving on. The sky in this one is very good. Great action in it.
Thanks Denis it certainly pays to get it right in camera when you can.
Andrew, I see what you mean. Sky looks brilliant. Onwards and upwards mate.
I do that all the time – have a skew horizon. Wonderful image with that dramatic cloud in the background. Something to watch for a that little bit of ‘ghosting’ around the front of the statue. Well done. Brent
Nice capture of the storm clouds going right over the statue. Those clouds work really well in B/W. Well done.
I love this, the edits made a great difference. Nice textures and contrasts!
Wow! The sky is spectacular. The composition is really cool. I agree with Denis about maybe seeing more of the ruins, but this image sure does pack a punch as is.
The statue looks like he’s mesmerized by the clouds… love that you’ve composed it that way. Great texture and contrast between the clouds and the stone and metal work.
Andrew this is a wow shot, the sky is amazing. The statue is looking to the left through the rest of the pictures. It’s a great shot, well done.
Great B&W image, Andrew. Really nice detail and tones in the statue and ruins, and that sky is amazing. I really like the wider view of the image below. I think we probably all are guilty of messing up horizons at times!
Andrew, wow! Very striking and great composition. The building perspective could possibly be adjusted in post, but that would be pretty tricky (at least for me). Maybe you could try to crop right along the top of the ruin, so only the middle piece of the ruin is visible, which would give a very minimalist image.
I like the drama in this image, Andrew. Looking at the uncropped version below, I think you made good choices on how to fix the skewed horizon and crop to suit the other elements of the image.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6384451a2b5a3f3f41138c597a3a4e0871f6dbab40a5d649fc60a084deaa3fc2.jpg
This is one of my photos from our trip to Ireland. O’Brien’s tower on the Cliffs of Moher. The land trip was perfect, very clear skies and just enough clouds to break up the sky. ISO 400 16mm f/10 1/400
I will be on vacation next week with little access to internet. I can’t wait to see what we do next.
Sara, nice picture. Nice composition. Good light / shadow with the clouds and the tower. I see on the right side the steps are not quite all visible. In this case you could perhaps make a crop on the right side. So it would be clear you didn’t want to have all steps on your picture. Now it is a bit “to be or not to be”… Well done.
Thank you Christian. I went back through my pictures and unfortunately, I do not have an image that includes all of the steps. I will play with cropping on the right and see what comes out.
Sara. I thought I recognised the shot. On my to do list. I like this one. Good structure and nicely taken. Pity about the steps to right, but that just minor. I like the way the light is playing on the side of the Tower. Well done.
You should take a trip and go shoot it too. Brent
Thank you Denis. My husband, as an O’Brien, was quite keen on “taking back” not only this tower, but O’Brien’s castle as well. Should you plan a trip, I wish you beautiful weather.
Sara, love this shot. Wonderful contrasts through the picture. Great composition and well executed. Steps on the right look a little shot off, don’t know if this has happened in the upload. Great job.
David, thank you.
Sara, this is nice work. Good composition and use of the rule of thirds, although the small white structure on the left edge tends to pull my eye to that side. The darkness of the tower is a strong element here, but I wonder what it would look like if you lightened the tower a bit to bring out the detail in the deeply shadowed part?
Bill, thank you for your feedback. I will play and see what shakes out.
Lovely shot, Sarah. Nice tonal range, and I also like the light on the side of the tower. Well done.
Kerrie, thank you. We had beautiful weather and I was happy to get the light on the side of the tower.
This image is excellent as a B/W because of that side light, textures, lines and shapes. LOVE it! Well done. Brent
Brent, thank you. The sky was so blue that day, seemed a shame to turn it B&W but it works both ways. Different feelings brought out.
Perfect for B&W image Sara. Well balanced composition. Have fun in your vacation.
Thank you Romy. I hope to have lots of images to share for the next challenge and my passion.
Beautiful image @disqus_cdh6bhNTbb:disqus, lovely for black and white.
Chris, thank you.
Beautiful shot and you got it without people.
Andrew, if you look closely on the left there is a person by the wall. But I was lucky yo have so few people in it. I took it in the evening so that helped with the people. Thank you for your kind words.
Nice photo Sara. I really like the circular steps leading up to the castle. I like how you offset the castle into the right third of the picture so the entryway isn’t crowded. Well done.
Beautifully composed, Sarah. Really works well!
This side light is wonderful. Beautiful image Sara, especially in B&W
Well done, Sara. I really like the light on one side showing the texture in the stones, while the other is so dark you almost have a silhouette at the arch.
Recently I visited an exposition of different artists. One of the artwork I liked is this one made of cardboard forms (almost ice-cream cones) put against a tree trunk. After some little adjustments in Lightroom I made the conversion to B&W with Silver Efex. Settings: 1/30 f/9 iso 100 110mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3a6edadb47206f09860778f9b39273cb42ab896d0dcef506bb919f29642918ba.jpg
Christian. Great shot. I like the different tones in this shot. Nice balance to it. Well done.
Thanks Denis
Wonderful shapes and patterns in this picture Christian. Might have been an idea to pull down the top to get rid of the top right hand corner where the area does not have any of the cones. Great shot Sir.
David, thanks for your suggestion. When taking the picture there was no way to fill that right corner. I like the circular form in that artwork. I fear that effect will get lost when cropping.
Love the radiating lines and concentric circles in this image, Christian. Very nice composition.
Thanks Kerrie
I love it when a picture makes me wonder or makes me ask: What is that? I believe most of us have heard that “A picture is worth a thousand words.” But I also believe that adding a dozen or more words to that equation–that effectively explains the image makes it much more worthy. Great job Christian in explaining the image and for finding an interesting pattern!
Agree Napolean – like the read a little to find out more. Great image @christianpiron:disqus love the textures. Initially I thought this was a roof but then read your description. Like how my eye is sucked into the “void”. Well done. Brent
Thanks Brent for your appreciation
Interesting image. My eyes follow the spiral pattern. Placing the center of the spiral in the upper 3rd makes a great composition. Well done Christian.
Thanks Romy
Great image, love the lines. Definitely makes me want to find out more. Where this was, what it is, how it was done, etc You have answered that but those are the questions that come to mind when I see a great photo like this.
Thanks Chris for your comment
Very cool! Love the tones and texture. Makes me want to see the whole tree, all the way around. I bet there was lots of inspiration at that exposition. Well done.
Thanks Sara for your comment
I actually thought they were tiles on a roof and not cardboard. Well done with the clarity of this photo. I like how you didn’t show that much of the tree, because it would have changed the whole image for me. Nice use of B/W.
Thanks Jeff for your comment
An interesting image – I find myself keep returning to it. Great subject for B&W with all the curved leading lines and patterns
Thanks Erez for your comment
Great subject for a B&W study, Christian. The patterns from the cones have me examining every little bit of this image. Like @erezshilat:disqus I keep coming back for another look.
Thanks Judy for your appreciation
B/W is such a great way to bring out interesting textures. This old nursery log sits in my backyard. ISO 100, 1/6, f/8, 60mm, tripod https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ffd3a1a0d0f0c40183ae1c054ed2782dbf42acacb4df908f62a320ca1c95469e.jpg
Brenda, very nice work! The handle of the ax provides a nice leading line and a clear subject and story. You might consider a tighter (perhaps square?) crop to bring the head of the ax more to the center. Since you shot with a tripod, another thing to think about would be to do some focus stacking to get the entire ax handle in sharp focus — particularly since the blurry end is almost centered in your image.
Agree with you @disqus_Dtqee4EuQn:disqus about the crop – I’d take some of the darker bit off the right hand side. I like the shallow depth of field @rtbp99:disqus leading my eye towards the axe head. Yes also like those textures in the foliage. Well done. Brent
Thanks all for the great comments and feedback! Here’s an updated version with a tighter crop. It could be even tighter, but I wanted to keep the full tonal range.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fc86236975e9357df86c856d38a71b27aa0c5d6a1a608c5ee41a7c6f5d5b8729.jpg
I like this crop, Brenda. Nice job using an unusual point of view looking down the handle toward the axe head.
I really like the angle you’ve shot this from, Brenda Blurring the end of the axe gives a lot of depth to the image. Nice shot.
Brenda, nice picture. A lot of texture. Good use of light and shadows.
Brenda. Nice shot. Good light and textures. I like the way the handle leads me to the Head of the Axe. I might crop a little off the right. Well done.
Wow Brenda, great idea for a photo. There is a lot of negative space on the right and it might be an idea to crop it. The handle acts as a leading line down towards the axe head. Lovely contrast and textures throughout. Great job.
Brenda well done. Unusual subject. I agree about cropping the right side a bit, with adding more on the left. More room for the axe head to move into once it gets picked up again. Personal preference and depending on what kind of shots you have taken. Great tonal range.
Cool photo. It looks like a scene from a scary movie. I like the way you made the axe head in focus but made the handle blurry. Nice use of textures.
My imagination is in overdrive! I love your focal point on this. Very clever shot…. I am not sure about others, but my imagination has gone to a scary place!
Wow Brenda, a great shot! The handle adds depth and a dynamic feel along with leading line. Love your point of view too. Excellent image
Great texture. It reminds me of times when I had to cut some fire wood to burn. When I was done I would drive the ax into the stump and say to myself…”Done!!”
Magdalena Peak. An air traffic control radar site sits on top of this isolated peak in southern New Mexico. Given the contrast between the radome and the rugged terrain, I tried for a spooky “Area 51” type of vibe for the image.
f/13, 1/160 sec, 55 mm, ISO 100, Nikon D3400 with kit lens.
For those not familiar, Area 51 is a mysterious and super-secret restricted base north of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where the US military conducts testing of advanced aircraft technologies. It is reputed to also hold extraterrestrial technology, space aliens and other interesting items.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9723f9b0a3dc5f5a45ac05a97c95b1136825cfde7bf2a853af428ef13c0e07cd.jpg
Very mysterious image, Bill. Love the light variation on the terrain, and those clouds add to the eerie feeling. My eye goes directly to that shining orb. Great shot!
Bill. You have given a spooky feel ti this image alright. Nice shot. Good variation of light at play. The bright light in the sky plays into your theme as well.Well done.
Well done with this shot Bill. I like the way the light plays onto the hill and the spooky clouds coming out of the top. Nice lines of the hill throughout the shot. Good job.
Well done Bill. You have accomplished your goal. Great light and shadow, tone and texture.
You did get that U.F.O. look to it. The cloud above the hill top is a great contrast compared to the black tip on the hill. Looks good in black and white.
You have got your “spooky Area 51” shot! Well done. Is that an UFO I see coming in for landing?
Well done!
Mission accomplished, Bill. I get the spooky vibe. That cloud could be a non-corporeal being! Simple, but effective composition in this image.
I took this a couple of days ago while taking some time out for a walk on the beach. I thought the old Groyne my lend itself to a B&W shot. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0186c788c0d870beae90b1e23a536f522992b95b34f7cae122d5fa76deea1a56.jpg
8 sec f11 ISO 100 at 33mm 10 stop ND filter
Wow Kerrie, love this image of yours – very arty. Like how my eye is directed into the back of your shot, following the zig-zags. Something you should try is to increase contrast in this image, making the blacks darker and the highlights lighter. Brent
Hey Brent, thanks so much for the feedback. I’ve tried to darken the blacks and lighten the highlights as you suggested. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5d83cac57ffb5004ffc636c625e46d9e2545221276fb604ed24ed015c17bd0a0.jpg
Yes – wow love it
Thanks. I feel like I’m learning more and more every time I go out and shoot.
Yup – that’s exactly what I want you to do
Kerrie. Now you really have got something. Magic. PRINT AND FRAME for all to see.
Agree
I didn’t think it possible to improve on your last post but this is magazine quality shot. I agree with Denis, print and frame it.
Wow, thanks so much again, David! The kind words are a real confidence booster 🙂
Spectacular job! I have to get a ND filter. Have graduated ones, but i think the full ND is next. Great job!
Thanks Sarah. Just do it! you’ll love it!
Great job with this photo. I like how the wooden pillars lead my eyes away from the sand and into the ocean. Nice blur of the water.
Thank you, Jeff.
My apologies for my first comment. I should have scrolled down first. This is more what I was imagining. Very nicely done Kerrie.
Thanks so much, Jarrod 🙂
So I am going through the photos one by one. I love the edit on this better…. but really lovely shot!
Thanks again Sheree!
Wow Kerrie! This is fantastic. The zig-zagging beams suck me right in and the misty water effect works so well to contrast with, and highlight, the textures in the stumps.
Just brilliant…..WOW….love it Kerrie! Love the long exposure and the sharpness of the beams. Also the composition with the leading lines from the wood and the water is stunning! Excellent image…well done!
Thank you for the positive feedback, Rerro. I bought this filter 3 weeks ago, and this is my 2nd time using it. I LOVE it! For many years I have looked at, and dreuled over long exposure images…And never knew how it was done. I know I have a long way to go, but now I feel like I’ve started something new, and I want to go there.
You are well on the way….a fabulous shot Kerrie….i look forward to more!!
Kerrie, How many stops is the filter?
I want to give this a go!
Beautiful long exposure shot Kerrie.
Thank you so much, Romy. Long exposure is new to me, and I love it.
Stunning image @kerrie_clarke:disqus. Magical in fact.
Thank you Chris, your feedback means a lot.
Kerrie, very good picture. I like very much the softness of the water by your long exposure. The leading lines by the beams in the water certainly have an added value to bring the viewer’s eye to the upper part of the picture. Well done.
Thanks so much, Christian. Long exposures are a new thing for me, and I definitely want to do more of this style of photography.
Kerrie. This is a great shot. Well composed and captured. Great light and balance throughout. I think you have something good here.. Well done.
Hey, thanks Denis. This is new to me, got my filter 3 weeks ago, It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do…I know there is heaps of room for improvement, but I feel so good about it!
Thanks Denis, this is the 2nd time I’ve tried this technique, and I’m loving it!
Lovely shot Kerrie – very well captured.
Thank you, Tessa
This makes me want to run out and buy a ND filter! What a stunning image…serene and magical.
Thanks you, Bonnie
Kerrie, quite simply a beautiful shot. I love the soft water and the light playing upon the water as it is moving around the groynes. Great composition and tack sharp. A great image that works so well in B&W.
Thanks so much for that feedback, David.
This is really interesting. The soft water gives it a mystical feel and the configuration of the wood draws my eyes through the photo. I like it!
Thank you, Valerie.
Love this one. Perfect composition and long exposure. Love the light in the leading lines. Feeling is peace and serenity. (my english not good)
Thanks so much, Jackie.
Beautiful photo Kerrie. It works very well as a black and white photo. Lovely composition and the shutter speed you chose really softens the water. I would like to see a little more clarity and contrast, but that’s just me and sometimes maybe I over do it in this regard. Well done..
I love, love this, Kerrie. How did you shoot it? Did you use an ND filter? I bought one, but have not tried it out yet!
Thanks Sheree, I used a 10 stop filter for this shot. You should try out yours!
Love this Kerrie, a wonderful long exposure and works very well in B&W
Thanks so much, Erez!
Excellent shot Kerrie. I think the changes you made based on Brent’s suggestions are right on! Definitely one to print and frame!!
Thanks Jim!
This is another Portrait. It is of the Brother of my Sister in Law. His family called over to Galway from Roscrea – Tipperary about 2 hrs travelling time on the Sunday afternoon for a visit. Just sitting around having the chat and generally chilling out. Shot Details: ISO 400, FL 92mm, F8, SS 1/20 sec. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c11ca2775fd7fad669b26c8c783c13124ca1c8b55cfa473245adeb259fd5869c.jpg
Denis.What a great subject and great shot. His eyes are amazing… there seems to be a lot of focus on the beard. I think you could enhance this by a crop from the left, and reducing the brightness in the top right, and accentuating those lines on the forehead-by reducing the highlights and bringing in some darks.
It has been wonderful watching you grow in your photography Denis.
Kerrie. Many thanks for those very encouraging words. As I said to Christian Piron, it gives me the confidence to go out and try again. See the attached repost and let me know what you think. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c97b7c048e239ae50b75930385afb5ef71baf292bce669ca9e39134fecc04779.jpg
Denis, this picture is much better. Well done.
Christian. Many thanks for your input.
Well done! I like the closer crop.
Sara. Many thanks. Me to.
Love it a new forte for you.
Andrew. Many thanks for that feedback. A lot to learn yet my man.
Nice shot Denis. Great clarity on his face with a nice bur in back. His goatee works well in black and white. I
Jeff. many thanks for that feedback
Kerrie. I think this is the one I prefer. as from the post below.https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e0e0b0f837ed363575be790fce948b8e05eefec26c1d42feec9ab1d78b5aa8b5.jpg
Denis I like this one better.
David. Me to.
I like this one Denis. It changes the balance of space behind him, giving him more space to look out of the image. Well done.
Kerrie. Many thanks for that feedback.
Nice job on the original and the edits. You have captured a lot of character in this photo!
Valerie. Many thanks for that feedback.
missed this crop – much better
Erez. Glad you like this one. Many thanks for the feedback as always.
Denis, great picture. I agree with Kerrie to crop at the left side. This way you could have more space in the view direction of the person. For a person with gray in hair and beard a B&W picture is surely a good choice. Well done.
Christian. Many thanks for that feedback. It gives me great encouragement to go out again. Self thought and it is hit and miss and more miss at times.
Wow Denis, you have certainly got the bug for portrait photography now. Nice and sharp on his face with a blur in the background which is a little surprising using f8. What did the shot look like on your computer? It’s uploaded a little dark. I wonder what he was thinking when you took the photo? He seems very compemplative. You have captured a great image Denis, good job.
David. Many thanks for those kind words. The shot on my Apple was a little lighter. He is a deep man- the strong silent type – but has pearls of wisdom.
Great portrait Denis….how can you make it better? If you had eye contact, and if you use an aperture of f2.8 or even more wide open if your lens allow….this will naturally fade the background distractions. Also by opening up the aperture, you can lower the ISO….which would be preferred.
Rerro. Many thanks for that constructive feed back and tips for the future. Have taken note and filed away.
Lovely black and white photograph portraying the character of the subject. I agree with Rerro, a lower aperture may improve it a little. The focus is spot on and the fact he is not looking at the camera adds a little mystery, for me anyway. I wonder where he is looking and why. Well done Denis.
Jarrod. Many thanks for that positive feedback. Great to get it.
Lovely portrait, and great capture of the character in his face. I find the background a little distracting and would try to blur it a bit.
I think you could actually do this in photoshop!— or get him to sit again with a large pperture.
Sheree. Many thanks for your feedback. Will have a look in photoshop. Getting him to sit again – well next to impossible.
I get that! 🙂
A good portrait Denis and different than the usual ones – great job.
The background is a little distracting so IMO, maybe try to blur it more.
Erez. Many thanks for your feedback. It was one of those quick fire moments. You see it, take it, and that is what you have.
This is my second attempt at macro, having recently bought a dedicated macro lens. It’s a Robber fly, a predator, that had “expired” on the flybridge. Since I am on a huge learning curve with macro photography and wanted to practice, I thought it would be a cooperative subject, which it was. I shot this indoors and had to use a high ISO, so there is a lot of grain, which I attempted to reduce. 1/60 f/8.0 90mm ISO 1000
Bonnie
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/55bc0aa660ca0afb9b0f24611213b6d6cd88545080726d9d1c923cc5ea5685d3.jpg
Fiat 76 boom, what a great image. Just amazing what you can do with macro. The fly is tack sharp with beautiful light falling onto its body. Well done Sir.
Thank-you so much for your positive response! I am really enjoying the challenge of macro photography. Bonnie
Very good macro. I like the white/black view of te fly. Unbelievable to see how they look like. Do you have a full frame? Just curious because I see you used a 90mm. Currently I don’t have one for my crop camera. Well done.
I have a Sony 7ii and a 90mm f/2.8 G OSS. I am on a learni g curve with both the camera and the macro lens. I appreciate your positive feedback! Bonnie
fiat 76. I think you nailed this very well. Good light and clarity throughout. Well done.
Thanks, Dennis! I appreciate your comments!
great macro shot Fiat and very effective in B&W….it gives the shot a SciFi kind of look!
Bonnie, well done. Ugly thing, but you have great light on the eyes and great detail. Well done.
Nice work, Bonnie!
Wow, yes very creepy Bonnie – an excellent capture. Eyes are sharp and that’s the big thing with macro photo’s because of that very shallow depth of field. For me this image would have more impact if the wings were visible and there was a little more space above. Well done. Brent
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e6f9d2c2cd4a348619d5885d0a81c47c794845eb2f34ebc28400957d57931ed8.jpg
Thank-you, All, for your comments! As per Brent’s suggestions, here is the image with a little more space above and more visible wings, Not sure, but I think there is more grain visible.
I like this one more. Well done. Brent
Thanks, Brent. I like this one better, too. All of the feedback has been appreciated!
I like this one better too. Well done.
A nice “punch” to this! This is better…..
I agree. This one is better. I love shooting macro but it’s tough and takes practice and experimentation. Keep at it. Really good job!
The light along the fly’s body, head and legs really work in this B&W image. Creepy and well done!
Great photo Fiat. It almost looks like a pencil drawing or an animated bug. Nice clarity on the head and front legs. Nice use of Macro.
Jeff. thanks! I am really enjoying macro photography, though I did not anticipate the challenges of macro.
There may be a little bit of grain visible in the background (just call it “blur”) but the eyes are nice and sharp which is what counts. Great shot Bonnie. It does help when the subject stays still.
Thank-you, Rodney. All of the comments have been encouraging in this new venture of mine.
I love macro photography. There is a whole other world out there that is easy to miss unless you look for it. I really like your photo Bonnie. You have captured the eyes and the “stinger thing” well.
You are so right about the world of macro photography! I am hooked! He does have quite the proboscis! Thanks for looking!
Ah! Proboscis… We are not only here to learn about photography. Thanks.
Very nice and captiving. Sharp and crisp, I can not give technical advice as I’m beginner but I love the feeling that this one is ready to jump on me. Great shot (my engish not so good)
Jackie, thanks! These guys are supposed to buzz, too. He wasn’t too intimidating in his current state (as in deceased), but I am not sure I would want to meet up with him alive! Thanks for taking a look and your comments.
Very cool and scary at the same time. This angle makes this little guy look huge! Seems like he is heading right towards the camera. Really nice contrast, too.
Deby, I WAS able to position him. I find him (her?) kind of droll looking. Thanks for taking a look and your comments!
Very nice image, very sharp. I thought it was one of those things from a Star Wars movie till I read the caption! Great capture.
Thanks, Chris….comments greatly appreciated!
Very nice, sharp shot! I think you have the answer—-get a critter who has bit it and shoot indoors!!! 🙂
Seriously, great shot and a great way to practice and get used to a macro lens….I must try this too!
Great shot. Very sharp and well posed – wonderful image
Nice clean shot ,well done ,Maybe you could bring your iso down to 200 or 400 & shoot with a lower f stop & shutter speed for less grain ,if you were using a tripod . & with no movement from the bug you could get a really sharp shot.
Another one from Pompeii
1/400 sec f/9ISO 200 14mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6b58271c318f933a64742512bad53d5d5630e7b21b6337fc927c466c999026fc.jpg
Wow. A very thought provoking photograph Andrew. Very nicely composed with the lower angle and the mountains in the background. The lovely range of tones makes it a beautiful black and white photo.
Andrew, great scenery. As if the giant let behind fractions of buildings. Great contrast in structure of the foreground with the background.
Andrew. Very good shot. I get a very good feel for the history and mayhem caused. I visited Pompeii many years ago with my late parents and you have evoked good memories. I think I will have to go back and update myself. Great shot. Well done.
Wow, you can absolutely feel the chaos of the place. The photo is moody and provocative with great detail amongst the ruins and the sky. The statue is bang on the rule of thirds. Good job Sir.
Andrew awesome photo. Love the tones, the texture. What an interesting place to visit, such history and atmosphere, I bet. Well done.
I like the perspective you used. The structure in the front points to the statue and the statue draws my eye to the sky. Well done.
Nice photo Andrew. I like how the lines in the foreground lead my eyes to the statue, and the statue leads my eyes to the clouds. Great cloud capture, and nice use of contrasting colors.
Nice photo Andrew. Good leading lines and great overall composition. Love it
Great B & W Andrew. Great composition, color, tones, texture and contrast as well as leading lines. This capture has it all!
Wow so many great photos out there, everyone posting some really unique and amazing photographs. So much smoke and haze in our area that I have been struggling to find the shot that just draws me in, so I decided to take a photo of our cat. She was rubbing in the dirt and the light seemed to be just right to highlight her. 1/1000sec, F4.5, ISO 320, 70mm. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8b64882011142af1fa32e0431597ca2ec8f676557c36ffd0f5675bfcc208e196.jpg
She looks so content laying there in the warm sun. I love the highlights and the sharp focus on her face.
Thank you!
Awww, sweet kitty face. Great capture.
Thank you.
Valerie. A lovely shot. I like the way the different lights play out. Nicely composed and shot. Well done.
Thanks Denis.
Valerie, a lovely picture of your cat. Beautiful light playing on the face and ear of your cat. She is looking straight at you and obviously used to being photographed. Some nice texture in the stones and differing light surrounding the cat. Good capture.
Hi David, I appreciate the comments. Thanks.
Well done Valerie.
Thanks Sara.
How did you get the cat to pose so well? 🙂
I like how the cat’s face is in focus with the rest of the image having a softness to it.
Thank you for the comments. She is more like a little puppy than a cat. She likes to follow you around and watch what you are doing.
Sweet little baby. Like Point Reyes says, I like the cats face in focus and the rest of the body is blurred just a little. She looks good in black and white. Well done.
Thank you Jeff.
Love the sharp clear eyes. Nice composition and great contrast and lighting. Nice job!
Thanks Barbara.
I love the sharpness in the forefront and the softness going back. Also the diagonal line from her body right into the dirt.
Nicely composed.
Thank you for the comments.
So cute! Great DOF and pose. Well done
Thanks Erez.
Good shadow & light on the young cat ,Beautiful cat
Thank you Peter
Very Nice B & W pet portrait Valerie. I agree with you on the lighting. It seems almost perfect.
Magic lighting and a lovely subject Valerie. Beautiful portrait of your furry friend.
1/250 f3,2 200mm. I was lucky to make a flight in hot-air balloon over Siem Reap, at sunset. Not over the temples of Ankor but the countryside. The atmosphere was very misty and our pilot flew very low over fields, trees and houses. Everywhere, people greeted us but it is especially the children who caught my attention. Everywhere we passed, the children would run after our balloon, the head raised in the sky as if they wanted to catch us. Magnificent experience! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a18779c77de14360aa97fd8779568415c1727200076292d85d6d4fda89928e22.jpg
Jackie, a very clear point of interest and well positioned.
Thank you very much Rodney
Lovely photo and great memory.
Thank you Chris
Jacky, very nice picture. The boy disappears a bit in the scenery, but in this case I don’t mind. It expresses the feeling you had from above in the balloon. It is lovely to see the enthousiasme of the boy. Good composition. Well done.
Thank you Christian for your nice comment
Jackie. A lovely shot. Great experience to capture. Well done.
Thank you Danis
Jackie, what an experience, what a capture. You can feel the wonderment in the face of the little boy as he marvels at the balloon. He gets a little lost in the background but there is no mistaking that he is your POI. I am a bit jealous as I would love to have this experience. Great job.
Thank you very much David for your nice comment:)
Fabulous shot Jackie….and what an experience! Well done
Thank you very much Rerro
Well done. Awesome experience.
Thank you Sara
Nice shot. The negative space really helps to create the sense of space and dimension.
Thank you Point for your nice comment 🙂
Nice shot. Love the textures on the ground and the little boy is positioned just right.
Really nicely composed. IN a balloon? I think I would have died, never would have got a camera over to aim down! 🙂
Yes, not easy to bring out the camera to Photography vertically down. But I asked my friend to hold the strap in my neck, in case….:)))
Nice shot and a great composition – love this minimalist approach
Thank you Erez
Great Capture. The look on his face says a lot!
Thank you very much Valerie.
Nice B & W. I would crop it down a little tighter to enlarge the child and get rid of some of that negative space on the right. really interesting perspective & point of view.
Thank you very much Jim. I had to crop already. I do not wanted to go to far to keep the perspective from above.
Great shot Jackie. I like the composition and your subject is a little charmer. It’s an unusual angle and makes me look twice.
Thank you very much Judy
I don’t really do portraits but a friend asked me to take pics at his daughters engagement party. This was full sun and too bright but I think it converted to B&W nicely. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b6dfe8cec285605837ad52bd5991cb43022f7e1d8fd8ae2d2996f44267ff8b6f.jpg F.9, 90mm, ISO200.
Chris, very good picture. In Lightroom you could reduce the reflection in the face. Good composition. Good blurred background. Well done.
Thanks Christian.
Chris. Like this shot. Nice composition and well taken. As said by Christian the shine on her face could be reduced in Lightroom. I might have a look at a small crop from the bottom. Well done.
Chris, this is really good considering the shooting conditions.
Chris, nice job with the composition and focus. I am surprised that you achieved such a blurred background using f9 but you did so good work. I find the picture a tad dark but this was probably due to the shooting conditions on the day. Did you try a lighten it in post? Overall a nice shot and you should be proud of it.
Thanks David. I did play around in post but I don’t do much in black and white so it’s hard for me to tell what makes a good b&w with my photos.
Great job Chris….really good considering your settings and the harsh sun!
Well done in harsh conditions.
Thank you Sara.
This shot works well in black and white which may have been over exposed in color with the full sun. Nice facial clarity with good contrast between the dress and her hair. Well done Chris.
Thank you Jeff.
Nice work despite the harsh sun. This came out great. Nice composition and use of body position to draw the viewers eye to her face. Great work!
Thank you Barbara.
Nice capture, Chris! I am not comfortable in doing portraits, and you have done a really good job with this. The light is a little hard for her face, but you have handled it really well.
Thank you Sheree!
Great shot in spite of the harsh light – extremely sharp too!
Thank you Sig.
Beautiful portrait and very well treatment of the harsh light conditions
Thank you Erez!
Really lovely portrait, Chris. Very natural and relaxed feel to it. Well done.
Chris I think you did an amazing job. For me people are hard to photograph and get the detail as good as you did. Well done!
Thank you Valerie! It helped that she was young and pretty and in love!
Nice B & W portrait! I think you captured her excitement of the day very well. I don’t really do portraits either but my spur of the moment one of my wife and her horse actually turned out pretty well.
Thanks Jim, I loved your photo with your wife and horse.
Great job with this one, Chris. The pose and angle to the light have helped minimize the shadows.
Thought i would get in on the portraits….this one i call ‘Gatsby’…..and in this case i was trying to get ‘white on white’ – so the image appears high key, and perhaps blown out….and might not be everyone’s taste…..but this is the look i was after. 1/80 sec. f/2.8 60 mm ISO1000 – i was using a speedlight bouncing off the ceiling with a diffuser.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/aba22d796cf7d9cdff1aa871fe27758025bfedfbdd851fd9a402a7db18241c66.jpg
Christine, this a very good picture. Perhaps even outside category. As if it was taken back in 1926. First I was studying your picture because of the dark stripes on the left and the right. As I saw the twist in her neck, I found out the stripes were of a cushion. I am a newbie on this matter, but personally I would try to see what is the result if the stripes were less dark. A lot of talk about me, but I like very much your high key picture. Well done.
Appreciate your comments Christian….i will see if i can lighten the black in the cushions, and see what it looks like. Thanks 🙂
Christine. About time I started calling you by your Real Name!!!. I like what you were after here and to a large extent you achieved it. What throws it off a bit for me are the cushions. I think it might be better against a plain white background. But it is all a mater of taste, likes and dislikes. That said the shot is a very good representative of that era. It is good to see you moving away from the landscapes. Well done.
Thanks for your comments Denis….much appreciated 🙂
I like the model’s pose, the catch lights in her eyes.
Thanks Rachel 🙂
Christine (is that your name?) I blew up your shot and the eyes are absolutely tack sharp. You captured the era and the look you were after very well. I agree with Denis and Christian that the cushion’s look a little distracting and would be better with a plain background in this case. The skin tones and the waves in the models hair are just perfect. Great job and if portraits are not in your comfort zone you have done one hell of a job with this one.
Thanks David…..and yes, my real name is Christine….Rerro is my nick name! Your comments are duly noted….i will keep that in mind next time. I will see if i can clone them out in PS 🙂 I have done a fair bit of collaborative work with models and MUA and hair stylists….but this shoot was the first time i used speedlights….so i was really happy with the outcome.
Well done. I am instantly drawn to her eyes.
High key is one of those areas I want to get better in. I like the look you were trying to achieve. I’m mainly drawn to the eyes and the hair. You even got a model that does not mind showing some teeth which is a refreshing change from the diva look I see so often.
Thanks Point….yes experimenting in different techniques and practicing is the way to go. I love white on white, and black on black!
Rerro. Great photo. I like the emphasis on her eyes and the white dress. She looks like she could be an old fashioned movie star the way she is made up. Nice facial clarity along with the foreground. Well done.
Thanks Jeff
High key is a great way to get the look you want. This photo is very professional looking. Very good composition and the line of her arm helps to draw you to her face. Excellent work!
Thank you Barbara….much appreciated!
Um—-WOW! Boy do I have a lot of work to do!!! I love the entire feel of this! Fabulous!
Thanks Sheree
WOWie! I really love this portrait. I think it turned out very cool and professional. I did a double take to make sure this wasn’t from the Gatsby era. Really awesome capture!
Thanks for the kind comments Deby!
Great 1920s style photo – beautifully done!
Thanks Sig
Rero, beautiful job. the makeup and they eyes pop out at you.
Thanks Juan
Another beautiful portrait, Rerro. I am completely drawn to her eyes, then her lips. For me, the cushions are on the periphery- and are quite balancing, forming points in a triangular line of darks in the image, which contrast so well with all the whites. BTW…your model is just fabulous!
Thanks Kerrie….such a fabulous easy going model….one of my fav’s…I have photographed her on many occasions
Classic old style B&W. Wonderful portrait – love how you went low to keep the model head above the black stripes. Very good processing. “Classic” great image
Thank you Erez
Beautiful and excellently done!
Thanks Valerie
The eyes are definitely the draw card in this shot & just enough dark in the cushions behind her to give an outline of her body as the subject
Thanks Peter
Christine. Very nicely done! You definitely achieved your goal here! Her eyes really grab your attention. Did you tweak them in post?
Thanks Jim….i always give the iris’s a tweak in post!
I love this Christine. It captures the era perfectly. Lovely soft light, producing a beautiful smooth skin, and great DoF.
Thanks Tessa!
Beautiful image Christine!
Thanks Chris
This one just oozes atmosphere, Christine. Regarding the cushions… before I read any of the comments, I thought they fit right into the scene beautifully. I was imagining the days of luxury travel on ocean liners. I’m a big fan of ‘high key’ right now. That little bit of contrast from the stripes helps differentiate and frame the model. Love it!
In Rome there has been a real “mime” industry–people in costume who will move or pose with you for a small contribution. Not sure if it is still going on as the last time I was there I saw fewer mimes (one of my albums I’ve collected). Anyway, I took this photo in color, with the character in silver paint and somehow managed to change to B&W while keeping his red backpack (no clue how that happened!). Canon PowerShot S95; 1/200; f/4; ISO200; 15mm. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bec2207002e1447ca705d13b8d15ce6b9ee5a6c11384aab4f64d011c703e6612.jpg
Love the silver guy. Great composition. Textures and lines are nice and the red backpack does give it a pop. Nice work!
Really looks great in B&W! I love the lines—and the character. Nicely composed!
Great composition Leila and wonderful B&W.
I think that it will be better to transform the bag to B&W as well. The red really pops and it is the first thing I see in the image and I don’t think that it is you main point of interest in this great image.
Leila, super shot. What a subject. The picture works really well in B&W and the bag is taking your eye away from the main point of interest. Some nice textures in the wood. The person appears very happy and is looking at something off in the distance for which you have left room in your picture for them to look that way. Good job.
Neat picture. He reminds me of a cartoon character!
Leila. this is a great shot. I like the light and tones throughout. Well balanced. The only downside id the red bag. I find it distracting. Well done.
Leila, the bag is distracting, but the image is well done.
Really cool shot Leila! Maybe try the target selector in Lightroom and see if you can get rid of the red bag color. Just a thought.
Very cool capture Leila….just keep in mind, that strictly speaking, this does not meet the brief of a B&W image
Took this B&W shot of my chainsaw as I was cutting down the palm tree that had been destroyed by palm weevils. Took this with my iPhone and the Provoke app. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/13870762fc4c442154533a5e7934567d63d3e4e88d8b169d38ecc0fb0b271a1f.jpg
Nice texture and lines. Contrast is good as well. Nice job!
Barbara thanks for your kind words.
This photo works well in black and white because I can feel the challenge of the tree has been handled by the chain saw. There is power to this photo and I like the way you portrayed that. Well done David.
Thanks for your comments Jeff.
Jeff, thank you so much for your comments.
Love the textures, David and thanks for the name of the app again! I looked over all the past messages and could not find it! Going to get it now!!! 🙂
This almost tells a story of “I think I can”—the chain saw looks so small to tackle the tree!
Sheree, thank you for your comments. I tried to hire a bigger chainsaw but the hire shop wouldn’t hire me one for a palm tree. Too fibrous. Screws up the chainsaw blades. I had to settle for my little one.
great Picture David. I like the textures. I wish there was a little more room on the left.
Thank you Juan, good suggestion.
Beautiful textures and I love the combination of the textured trunk and the chainsaw – love it.
I think that you can improve it so – the trunk has wonderful light and the chainsaw does not. It looks as if the trunk was your subject and the chainsaw a decoration. Next time you can shade the chainsaw to obtain a balanced illumination, but now you can improve it in post. Lovely image as is so
Thanks for your constructive comments Erez.
David. Very nice shot. Very good texture and tones. The clarity is good throughout. Well done.
Thanks Denis, that was a tough day.
Thanks so much Denis.
David well done the texture is great.
Thank you Sara.
I like it! Stihl would too! Nice shot David.
Thanks Jim.
Great shot for an advert David!
Thank you Christine.
Back from vacation and noticed something very ordinary in my very dry yard. So I decided to go abstract in a non-ordinary way.
Taken with a Mir-1b 37mm attached to two Fuji extension tubes at maximum aperture of 2.8 to create extremely small DoF. There was a light breeze to further help with leaving very little in focus. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a022c99b6b2ce3053d24b3a6485acabde487fad2a79320af5de138ecaaa90907.jpg
Wow this is an awesome picture. Love the background, it makes the black lines pop out. Great work!
Nice use of shadows along with the contrasting colors. I like the black center of the plant and the white background. Nice use of imagination on your photo Point.
This is a great abstract. Love this.
great abstract picture Point
I really like the contrast and the shadow effects.
Point. Very good abstract shot. Well Done.
Point well done! Very abstract, well balanced.
Great macro abstract shot….and i like the effect you have achieved here
Nice abstract shot, Point. I have not tried using extension tubes. Hope to find a buddy/workshop to learn how to do this where I live as I really like macro photography.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e5c5a92a0ee21ea16f02d4b45fb3acbc8e236da3df4c77628713ab38ffc332be.jpg
Classic Chevrolet Hood Ornament
Canon 6D, 24-105mm lens, f.4, 1/1000, ISO 100
I chose the widest aperture my lens would go on this shot as I wanted to draw the viewer’s eye directly to the main subject, which is the hood ornament. (I also wanted a large aperture to avoid capturing all of the spectators around this car, in which there were many.)
My first editing of this photo I did in an old fashioned sepia tone. I turned this to just black and white as this is our theme. ( I actually prefer the sepia over this.)
UPDATE: I just posted this and am seeing how out of focus the eye looks here. This photo is super sharp on my laptop. Perhaps I am not doing the settings correctly? 2000 px wide? Hmmmm? Doesn’t look that good posted here.
Debi, this is a really good whot with the eagle in sharp focus and the rest soft. This works really well in B&W.
Thank you Sheree. I appreciate all the comments.
Beautiful Debi and very well done
Thank you Erez.
Nice job and great focus on the hood ornament. The soft background is a good compliment.
Thank you Valerie.
Deby. Very good shot. Good light and balance throughout. Well done.
Thank you kindly Denis.
even though this is a very good B & W photo there is no doubt that grill & ornament are chrome ,great shot
Thank you Peter.
Deby, well done! The tones are great as is the light.
Thank you very much Sara.
Awesome shot Deby
Thank you Jim.
This is a fantastic sharp shot Deby…i like that you chose a shallow DoF and chose a SPOI to focus on.
Thank you Rerro.
Lovely detail shot Deby. Really suits B&W.
Thank you Tessa.
Deby, I’m ‘pixel peeping’ and it looks spot on to me. I think it’s just the detail and/or reflections in the eye that make it look off. In my opinion, this is a great photo. Your PP seems to be spot on as well. One thing I see that would improve this is to eliminate the reflections. ( bokeh bubbles )
Thank you Rachel.
Looks sharp to me Deby – just love this image, all that chrome and then the darker background which kind of frames the hood ornament. Love that you used a wide open aperture for that shallow depth of field too – good choice with crowds. How to make this better? – maybe get down a little lower so that the hood ornament has the dark background to seperate it even more, but maybe this wouldn’t work with the crowds? Well done. Brent
Hi Brent,
Thank you very much for the suggestion on trying another angle. This was probably taken midday while fighting crowds of on lookers so that is probably why I chose this angle. Great point to try different angles and backgrounds (while shooting) to have options later when going through photos to edit. Your thoughts are very much appreciated!
Great photo! I think old cars like this are meant to be in black and white.
This one is a winner. You made great choices to highlight the subject and it seems to glow in B&W. Looks nice and sharp to me.
Thank you very much Judy. I appreciate your comments very much.
I have not really had a chance to experiment much this week. Took this last week when trying to use my Nikkor Macro lens. It was pretty breezy and bright light. It is a spider lily which had a bit of water left from the rain earlier. Thanks!
D750 60mm f4.0 1/3200sec.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9c89fc156049e21a2b282defd45ffc8ced3865d48132fc3ddb71860539b72bf5.jpg
Very well composed – great abstract
Thanks! This end result was a heavily cropped shot of a part of a spider lily!
Sheree. Well composed and shot. Nice abstract feel to it. Well done.
Thanks!
Well done, great abstract, good tones and lighting.
Very nicely composed and use of the full frame!
Sheree. Well done on the clarity of the droplets of water on the stem. I like the blurred background with the clarity up front. Nice use of b/w.
I like the crop you have selected. The abstract treatment had me wondering what it was before I read your notes.
I took this image at a beach concert celebrating 100yrs of Mendella’s birth during the Commonwealth Games.,
the stage had a lot of smoke and theatrical lighting.
On stage is Mendella’s Grandson, and on screen is Mendella holding his Grandson. Nice touch I thought.
ISO 8000, fl26mm, f4.2, 1/500sec
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/70f1dbfffb0442bb4024507a42a09fd710b0c643b9fdd78eb124b526d868e949.jpg
Such a great shot and works amazing in B&W. Very powerful photo!
Thankyou Sheree
Powerful shot John, interesting and well done
Thanks Erez
Awesome capture, John! I love the mix of light and dark, and that beautiful grainy image of Nelson with the young grandson. Love it!
Thankyou Kerrie
John, you captured it very well. Great B&W with a great story.
Thanks Christian
Love this! There is a difinite emotion in this.
thankyou Valerie, I agree.
John. Great capture. He was an inspirational man and you show this – at least for me – in this shot. Well done.
Thanks Denis.Slainte.
Very moving photo, John. You can almost feel the emotion from the grandson as he speaks about his grandfather.
I also thought this, thankyou Peter
Fantastic photo!!!
Thankyou Ingrid
Awesome!
Thankyou Sara
Nice B & W John! Great subject matter, tones textures and contrast. I know concerts are very hard to photograph and you have captured this one very well! Well done.
Thanks Jim
Great capture John. My eye goes from the big screen to his grandson on stage – I think the way his grandson is separated from the background with that back-lighting really adds to the pop. Wonder if there is something you can do with his shoes? Brent
Thanks Brent, I will give it a go.
Hi Brent, managed to change shoes.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8e86aa5bbfbe91ad3f63ca57543867f550a18200401d4863033084d814e5a8f4.jpg
What a concert that must have been. The smoke you mentioned gives the lights a nice blurred affect with the clarity on the grandson. I like how you framed the shot to also get the big screen in the frame to make it a nice split shot.
Thanks Jeff
Terrific shot, John. This is a powerful image in B&W. The lighting and smoke really add to the atmosphere.
So something strange happened in my kitchen tonight! @DavidRobinson I downloaded the app!
this was taken with my iPhone and the Provoke app. I did crop out the gas burners as they were even more distracting than all the different POVs! I may experiment more with this thing!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f710bfc24f0bd38d4d4e43c224f90bac7a883d3ae3725f53dec62e132fb86b21.jpg
So cool Sheree, wonderful light and great composition
Thanks, Erez!
Sheree. Great light and composition. Well done.
Thanks, Denis.
Great light and contrast. Well done.
Thanks, Sara! It was one of those shots where you look up and see it!
Very cool!
I really like the shadows in the bottom part of the photo. It draws my eyes to the measuring cups which are highlighted with a nice spot of light. The middle is busy but the rest of the photo kind of calms that section down. Well done.
Very interesting play of light and shadow going on here. Beauty happens in the most surprising places! Well done, Sheree.
Abandoned! Shot in colour, edited in Lightroom. Sony Alpha 7 ii with 24 – 240 mm lens at 35 mm, f11, 1/200 and ISO 100. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f82bb4aeb4c07c799281748f7649439c6dcfeba9bae17c9d98c337aa8293f478.jpg
Great mood and a good processing – wonderful image
Sig, very nice picture. There is a lot of light and shadow. Also great textures. Well done.
Sig. great shot of this old building. Great tones and textures throughout. Well done.
Love old buildings. So much character and the black and white seems to accentuate it.
Love this image! The contrasts and textures are very nice. The dark mood the image portrays is very cool!
Love it! I like the dark moody feel to it. Well done.
I love this. I like the fence in the foreground and wonder if it could be lightened a bit. But like the contrast on the building and textures.
Sheree, thanks for your comments! Yes, the fence in the foreground can definitely be lightened. Actually, I deliberately darkened the front part of the image by quite a bit in order to deemphasize it in relation to the house, which is the main subject. I did not want the fence to detract from the house. I have included another version where the front end is much brighter. I don’t like that as much, because the fence is now right in my face and in my mind the mystery of https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/72288d0fede8074db4294319dee1424a6fe40476396a4b6171ce5822e20157af.jpg the photo is gone. However, you may prefer the second version.
Looks kind of haunted but in a cool way. I like how that window shade is highlighted in white while the roof is so black. Nice contrasting colors.
Thanks Jeff!
Thanks everyone for your positive comments – much appreciated!
Great shot Sig….it has a moody feel….I love the broken windows. I would be using the fence to draw the eye into the house….so try lightening the wooden fence and the foreground with the aim of leading the eye
Rerro, thanks very much for your comments! I find the comment that a brighter fence in the foreground would be leading the eye towards the house, to be interesting. I am sure you have much more experience than I do in composition, but I view this differently. I find that the fence, if lighter, draws attention to itself, so that the attention becomes split between the fence and the house. The fact is that the fence is not a leading line (at least not in my mind), as its direction is across the line of sight to the house. Therefore, by darkening the fence, I am deemphesizing it and attention falls more directly on the house. (See also my answer to Sheree.) However, I would very much appreciate further comments from you on this. I am always looking for good guidance – so thanks in advance!
Hi Sig, in my view….as the image is portrayed right now, the dull fence is a distraction for me. My eye settles on it immediately, and then stops. Also it takes up quite a bit of the bottom of the image. Generally it is natural for the eye to move in from the bottom left and move in an upward trajectory towards the top rhs of the image and then move left and circle around. My thoughts are that either we need to remove the fence out of the image completely or we need to use it to lead the eye. If we kept the fence in, i would be leading the eye along from left to right, then lightening a pathway of sorts up towards the white window.The top part of the image is just wonderful. This is purely my opinion Sig…..it is a fabulous shot. Well done….and its brilliant in B&W
Hi Rerro,
Thank you for your in-depth reply – very much appreciated! I am still pondering your answer and I will try some of your suggestions. Thanks again!
Hi again Rerro, I have thought about this a bit more. I respect your opinion, but here is the way I see it. The bright, sizable house and the sky are what capture my focus right away. I do not see why my eye should have to move up from the bottom of the image. The fence, although it also has some brightness, is much less prominent and my eye only moves there afterwards. In the original image, when the illumination was even across the frame, I would agree that the fence was a distraction. That’s why I brightened the house and sky and toned downed the brightness on the fence. With the fence where it is, I find the image to be balanced both vertically and horizontally. With the fence gone (see the second image) the balance is also gone. Additionally, I find that the black at the bottom of the frame represents substantial weight and serves to give the image good grounding. The dark foreground also adds drama and mystery to the image (in my mind). Anyway, enough said. Let me know if, to you, some or all of this does not make any sense. Thanks very much! I have cropped the image slightly on the LHS and this is my final version. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ec5fa725520e7f1688057bfdb49369264e52e597c2e21a5d88ff4504aaea3bc4.jpg
Makes perfect sense…..and remember, essentially an image is how YOU see/feel…it is purely your emotions being transferred through your lens. Just the fact that we are discussing this, and going back to look, and look again shows that you have evoked your viewers emotions too….and this is what it is all about Well done on a very good image!
Thanks Rerro – very much appreciated!
Sig, this is a great image. Love the detail and textures in the house. RE: fence. I would suggest loosing it, as Rerro suggested, and maybe just a bit more sky above the house!?
Just realized that that’s an old boat in front of the house, on the right.
Rachel, Thanks very much for your suggestions! I took a look at what it would take to implement them. In order to eliminate the fence and add more sky above the house, a re-shoot would be required. I will try that, but to re-create the same conditions, I will have to wait until the leaves are off the trees – likely November. Eliminating the fence is easy enough by cropping and I have attached the result. Not bad, and I can see that adding more sky would be beneficial. Getting rid of the fence by editing it out would seem to be a daunting task at best, because it is so entangled in all the little branches. Anyway, again I really appreciate your comments! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a122701f20508998637765fe3d932d530482b6f7331da5daa5d5538a836dc3d3.jpg
I like this dark, moody original post, Sig. It’s a terrific subject for a B&W image. To me, the fence is part of the story – it’s been neglected, just like the house. I was looking at a workshop taking place within 3 hours drive of where I live to photograph abandoned farm buildings at night, sometimes illuminating them from inside by flashlights. I was ready to pay my money when I realised there was no way I could get approval to take time off work to go on the weekend it was offered. This house is much like the subjects promised in the workshop.
Hi Judy, Thanks very much for your comments! Yes, photographing abandoned farm buildings at night would be a really cool project. However, don’t forget that you can do a great deal in post to create mood and drama, even if the photo, as in my case, was shoot in broad daylight.
I have been very busy taking photographs and not had a lot of time to edit very many of them. But, I wanted to get at least 1 more B&W image in here before the close of the challenge, so I quickly worked this one so I could post it. It was shot looking out a window on the empty upper floor of a building at the Illinois State Fair. f4.5 – 1/500 sec – ISO 1600. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7884c1ece5caadfad47b3a5bd246a011ad8c4dfd8206ad74f6383dd8d4942a70.jpg
Lovely image with all these textures and patterns. Great B&W
Thank you, Erez.
Vicki, nice picture. Good use of a see-through. I think it would even be better without reflection as I suppose it isn’t your POI.
Thanks Christian. I will post a cropped version.
Vicki. Good use of light and angles in this shot. I would agree with Christian Piron re the reflections. Well done.
Thanks Denis.
Christian and Denis…Here is the cropped version. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1592867b69cd1072b5340a859659ac5021777ec3d2a9ffe5c82d3ef4402fd62a.jpg
Vicki, I like this one better. Agree about the reflection being distracting. That being said, this image has great tones. Well done.
Thank you, Sara.
I enjoy seeing the American flag in the top window. That look really nice. I also like the bars on the bottom and how they are so black with the outside still bright outside. Nice clarity in your photo Vicki.
Thanks Jeff.
Nice lines. I also like the added interest of the reflection on the floor under the photo—so prefer this version over the cropped on! I like the way you handled the light versus dark.
Thank you, Sheree. I like the original one better than the cropped version as well. Personal tastes.
Really cool shot Vicki. it works really well as a B & W. Great detail & tones as well as good contrast. I like how the windows seem to frame two completely different architectural images.
Thank you, Jim.
Brilliant use of the window to frame your shot Vicki….gives us a new perspective!
Thanks Rerro.
I like this version with the reflections, Vicki. For me it adds another level of the grey scale. Great shot.
Thanks very much, Kerrie.
Great shot. I can see myself standing back, looking out the window.
Thanks so much, Rachel
Nice use of framing and silhouettes in this image, Vicki.
Thanks, Judy.
Playing with food again. I’m still learning to use artificial light and fruits and vegetables are such patient models! There are endless possibilities in this game.
I took several images using a single flash and combined the images at post. The final image was yet processed in Photoshop to obtain the mood I wanted.
All images were shot using 1/180 and f/4 ISO 200
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b6d0e40fd53cc184d5d4501b34f1da6f7eeb2197ef0d8f79119519df6c187201.jpg
Ha! Love it, Erez! The union of the bananas…with the minister standing in the darkness…
Thanks Kerrie
Erez, interesting and creative picture. There is a lot to discover. Good use of your light.
Thank you Christian
Interesting photo and very creative. At first I thought the bananas were a wood carving. I like the contrast between the light and dark.
Thanks Valerie. Yes, I tried to extract as many details as possible from the bananas, still haven’t decided if it is too much or not…
Erez. Very creative shot and a good lesson in how to maximise items around you. I like the light and textures you show here. Well done.
Thanks for your feedback Denis
Erez, a fantastic and moody image which is what you were after and certainly achieved it. I love the different lighting effects which are very creative. Well done.
Thank you David
Erez, great job. Very moody, great detail.
Thanks Sara
A great way to experiment! I really like the bananas… it is a good still.
Many thanks Sheree
Love the darkness here; it makes you have to really look at the image, which is almost abstract.
Thanks Leila
Erez, great detail & contrast.
Thanks Jim
I like your creativity here Erez….very clever!
Thank you Rerro 🙂
A really cool image Erez. Love the creativity.
Thank you Rachel
Nice photo Erez. Its fun to expand your creative ability to see what you can come up with. I need to do more of that myself. Nice highlighted area with the other parts dark and black. Well done.
Thank you Jeff and good luck with yours 🙂
You have a wicked sense of humour, Erez. This is lots of fun. Love the big banana hugging/protecting the little one. Did you use the flash at different angles for all the different shots?
Thanks Judy 😉
I took many shots, each with a hand held flash in a small diffuser from a different angle and different distances. It makes it easier to “sculp” the lighting in post to the way I want. It works only when your models are perfectly still
Hi all. I was not going to post anymore for this project. Thought I had bored you enough with the last 5 posts. Then I came on this shot taken on my trip two weeks back. Took close on 1000 shots and ploughing my way through them. This is a scene from Galway City. Known locally as “The Long Walk” it is one of the most photographed/Painted in Galway. Shot Details: ISO 200, FL 18mm, F8, SS 1/500 sec. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/92b8eeb8379506bc1da76527c7a7ef0c394489e23edecec45ac78ae1d5138036.jpg
Very peaceful, Denis. Great leading lines.
Peter. Many thanks for that feedback.
Denis, great composition and well thought out shot. Nice reflections in the water and I like the lighter coloured houses in the middle, adds a nice contrast. Good work.
David. Many thanks for those words. Much appreciated.
Wonderful composition. I like the tones, the detail, the clouds. Great job Denis.
Sara. Many thanks for those kind words.
Really lovely composition. I love the water with the waves, the different textures on the buildings and the clouds at the end with the channel. Just curious, are the buildings themselves different colours?
Sheree. Many thanks for that feedback. Yes they are all different colours. Just for You!!!https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cff0059a3a15787be1e24ea1e98d39e375e782921357100f28662df049fb9722.jpg
🙂 This works well in both colour and B&W!
Hi Sheree. I agree and so I took both.
Denis, reviewing this sublission I personally find the “colored” version much more eye-catching. The B&W version is a great picture as I alreadu said, but I return to view this one. You can perhaps use it in another challenge :-))
So glad you posted this one. The day I was in Galway it was grey and dreary. This view somehow makes it seem better. Maybe crop a bit on the right side?
Leila. Many thanks for that feedback. I thought about the crop you suggested and decided against it. It sort of frames the entrance and did not want to take out the distant view of Kinvara on the far side of the bay.
This is really pretty. I like how the buildings and the ripples in the water pull your eyes through the photo into the dark sky. Great contrast as well.
Valerie. Many thanks for those kind words.
Really nice B & W Denis! Great composition & contrast. I really like the subject matter and how the buildings and cars are all lined up along the seawall. I love the bright backlit area above the white buildings as well as the ominous clouds. Well done!
Jim. Many thanks for that feedback. Like this one myself. Might Frame it.
Fabulous composition – very impressive!
Sig. Many thanks for that feedback. Appreciate it.
Wow Denis….just gorgeous this scene….excellent shot!
Ah Christine, many thanks for those encouraging words.
Great shot, I know this well it is my wife and I favourite town,
we usually stay at the Jury inn, last there June. Good angle
and cloud capture.
John. Many thanks for that feedback. Took a few that morning and settled on this one. I was one of six out shooting and the banter was good fun. Yes it is a good old city and always something going on.
Really lovely image, Denis. Makes me want to come and photograph Ireland!
Kerrie. Many thanks for that feedback. Come on over, like every where there are some gems.
Great shot Denis. This is also one of my favorite towns in Ireland. Was wondering what the impact would be if you cropped the bottom so that the quay started in the lower left corner?
Rachel. Many thanks for that feedback. Have met you half way re your suggestion. Also cropped a little of the right as suggested earlier. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/200336b88a1b3305aa95fac54e7fe404f4d99fa322a99845af81cf738309baac.jpg
Just my taste, but I do like this better. :0)
Rachel. That’s fine. Glad to be of help!!!!!!
Denis, Great shot … improved by cropping to the bottom left !
Hi Richard. Many thanks for that feedback.
Water and old buildings are always a win-win in my book! This is a great shot. I am not convinced the crop changed much, I have scrolled back and forth and can’t decide if it was worth the work. Somehow the crop makes the buildings appear almost further away. I love that B/W images are more dramatic, but I bet this was beautiful in color too.
Hi Quinn Schulze. Many thanks for that feedback.
Great capture of the ripples in the water, it causes my eyes to follow the building to the end. I like the grey clouds overhead too. Well done Denis.
Hi Jeff. Many thanks for that feedback.
Denis, great picture. I love the reflections in the water ripples. A little crop at the bottom would lead us better to the right. Great contrast between the left side and the right with those threatening clouds. Well done.
Christian. Many thanks for the feedback. See my reply/repost to Rachel Cilmour
I like the composition and lines here Denis – it suits the wide-angle crop.
Tessa,. Many thanks for your feedback.
Love the composition and mood. Great image Denis
Erez. Many thanks for your feedback as always.
Nice work Denis. I think this image is beautifully balanced.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7d6ba228fc27e17b93f16a844683a4ed5943ad72a9376f1b84d0bfeb34517337.jpg My wife and I were having dinner at a restaurant in Opatija, Croatia when this storm rushed over the water. The sky turned black. I lost the settings, but due to the darkness, I had to get rid of some noise in Lightroom. This took away some of the sharpness of the boats. The end result was more of a pastel look – ” The Calm Before the Storm ” .
Hi Peter, lovely composition and contrasts throughout the shot. I think that something has been lost in the Lightroom edits as you said which is a pity. The sky looks amazing and good job.
Thanks, David. We finished dinner quickly, then ran back to our hotel just as the rain started pouring. Fortunately, my camera wasn’t damaged.
It is actually hard to believe that this is a photo! The clouds look like a photo, but the boats look almost like a chalk drawing. I really do like the effect that came from getting rid of the noise. It is very different!
Thank you , Sheree.
Great capture!
Thank you, Ingrid.
Thanks, Ingrid.
Interesting effect. Great composition.
Thanks, Sarah.
Really interesting–the top half looks realistic and the boats look like drawing. Those clouds are really ominous-looking.
Thanks,Leila. They were. We got drenched.
So different it almost like a scene from a cartoon. The sky is frightening. Good job.
Thanks, Valerie.
Thanks, Valerie.
Really interesting effect Pete. I really like it! It looks like a charcoal or pen & ink rendering by an artist.
Thanks, Jim. I agree it looks more like a painting than a photo. I did not use my painting software here.
Interesting Peter….not sure that it is my taste though….maybe if the boats were more white….and not grey as they are now.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d4f3999a5a337814468217f9999a4d8f356338a1900822eafc810f8b5e7602ee.jpg Hi Rerro, I tried to lighten up the boats using the graduated filter. If I changed the whites and highlights, I blew out the sky. When I went too white, the boats looked like a cartoon. When you get rid of noise (like I had to because it was so dark), is it typical to really soften the photo like this? Thanks for your advise.
Could you post the original raw file here Peter, and i will have a look at it, and see what i can do in LR?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6deaf33100c55fbdc2b8f874644947ecd60d73c247a0b5225df890e01ab21a35.jpg The raw file is too large for the format here. I could email the larger file if you want. My email is pbrody1222@gmail.com Thanks for your help and advice.
Peter send me the raw to rerro67@gmail.com. And i will see what i can do 🙂
Rerro, I sent you the raw version via google drive. Thank you so much.
Peter
Peter i have processed this image. The ISO of 3200 (because of the low light) has introduced the grain. I upped the exposure to about 1.1. I used a vignette and played with the clarity and contrast in the clouds.Your settings were f9 at 1/10sec at ISO3200
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d26379d16ee92d0d158277eb77608a7415360cb10c3f8f12ce354add4e360d2f.jpg
Thanks, Rerro. It looks more natural than my version.l, I still don’t know what I did in processing, but I like the abstractness in it. As you said, it’s a matter of taste.
Agreed and there are endless possibilities on how to edit this….well done on a good effort
Peter. You got a good effect here and different. Like the sky, in fact I like it all. Well done.
Thanks, Denis.
A really interesting and unusual effect here Peter.
Thanks, Tessa.
Great capture – love all the boat lines and the dramatic sky
Thanks, Erez.
Very cool effect Peter, it makes it look animated or even drawn with charcoal. This would look great in a seafood restaurant. Well done.
Thanks, Jeff.
Lightroom does tend to make surfaces look like plastic if the noise reduction is high. That being said, I think this is a worthy artistic voyage. It gives us a completely different take on the image, which does look more like a drawing than a photo. It won’t be to everyone’s taste; nothing wrong with that, either. I think it works as a B&W study for this challenge.
Thank you, Judy. I like the surreal look, It fit the experience of the on- coming storm.
San Francisco Embarcadero Center – Taken with my iPhone. Rendered in Topaz Studio and Alien Skin. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3a39cf876fa23a9b03a1c034fe36d282167a5ffa4ad4fcab57004c9164c2bdde.jpg
This is a nice effect. Looks like you can print and hang!
Very nice. Looks like a postcard.
Love the artistic feel here Ingrid….very effective with architecture
Very Arty, Ingrid. Great leading lines and contrast. Looks like a pencil sketch. Well done.
Ingrid. Great shot. Looks like a very good line drawing. Well done.
Nice creative image Ingrid. This filter suits this kind of images.
Very nice effect, Ingrid. The lines draw you right into the scene.
Interesting image Ingrid.
Nice photo with an Iphone. It kind of looks like a blueprint of a new city. I like the contrasting colors.
This is so cool, Ingrid. It’s a beautiful work of art.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/97b151a4627582a5215b05b43b4c4feca4957b3eb7d878bbbbae87c5fb73c9e4.jpg
So, I was going to be done with this challenge and get ready for vacation, but I thought I would add one more. This is a picture of Muckross Abbey from the path leading from Muckross House. This Estate was one of my favorite memories from Ireland. I cropped the photo a bit to put the Abbey in the rule of thirds, converted to B&W. I thought the clouds were fabulous and thus help make a great B&W image. ISO 400 22mm f/11 1/500
Very nice image Sara! Love the clouds. It does look a little under exposed here but that may just be Disqus. The horizon might be off just a bit as everything seems to be leaning slightly left. if it is the result of this image being shot with a very wide angle lens, you could easily straighten it in lightroom under the lens correction tab. You might want to crop it down a little tighter to pick up more detail of the abbey as it looks really interesting.
Great shot Sara…the castle is getting lost in the trees though….try and bring the viewers eye to the castle in Post processing
Lovely image, Sarah. Well done. I agree that the Abbey is a bit lost though. Maybe some cropping, and a radial filter over the Abbey to lighten/brighten it up a bit? I really like that diagonal line of the wetland, and the fall of the land adds a lot of interest. I imagine that this would also look awesome in colour.
Sara. A great place to visit and get shots whatever the weather. I wonder could you lighten the Abbey a little. Still like the shot though. Well one.
Sara, this picture has a lot of potential. I agree with previous remarks.
You are right, Sara. The clouds to help to make this a fab b&W. I can’t help but feeling it is crooked a bit and I think it is my perception re the hill in the foreground. It might be worth tweaking a little to the left… This has a couple POVs….for instance the graveyard on the left. Perhpas a bit more post processing to bring this up—contrast? Good leading line….nicely composed!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e5358781b95e2a9e090852c4fb2b49c0a30bfff45cb89256da7a55f6276e45a0.jpg
Still learning the software. Here is a straightened image, a little closer and a little lighter. I lost some of the drama in the clouds, but still working on highlighting just part of the photo.
You have lost some of the leading line and the hill. It is cropped in a bit too close, IMHO! Also, liked the front tree on the left in the original. I think it is really minor tweaks….maybe lighten the shadows a bit and darken the highlights? These images are great to work with in post as you have a great foundation!
Sara, lots of potential in this photo. Personally I don’t think there’s much that can be done to enhance the abbey. The trees in front are in the way. I believe that the cemetery would be a better POI.
I like this. You did well with your software program, keep up the good work. Nice contrasting shades.
Great shot Sara. Both versions are nice, but I agree with Sheree and prefer the original.
There are other ways to set POI to the building, not only cropping. mainly using manual tools like radial filter in Lightroom to set a vignette.
Hi Sara – you have some great elements in this image. I think Ireland is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been. I like the scattered brightness from the flowers in in the foreground as a minor part of the composition. The graveyard and castle are terrific main subjects. I also think that the trees obscure the castle somewhat. Maybe you could selectively brighten the walls of the building by adjusting the luminosity of oranges to be brighter (assuming those were the original colours in the bricks/stones. That might help the castle be more prominent.
Started looking again for photo opportunities. I had forgotten how much I had forgotten to “see” … I experimented with a board of corks I was given…. I took this with my iPhone with the Provoke ap. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/40e49bfb9acb7e255fda8c70e53ad3a3c88b6285f9da68c8752d8b17d6ac92b2.jpg
Neat, I have a hot pad made of corks as well–gotta start looking at those ordinary things as photo opps more often.
Really cool B&W Sheree! Tack sharp focus, great details & contrast. I love this as a B & W!
Super cool….i like the texture of the corks, and how they are arranged and fill the frame!
I really like this! It works so well as a B&W.
I really love this shot. Really creative with great contrast.
Sheree. Very cool and good shot.. Like it. Well done.
Thanks!
Sheree, nice constructive picture. Seeing all those corks it could hold a lot of reminders. What are your settings? Well done.
Christian, thank you! I used my iPhone the settings were all automatic…f1.8 ISO320 1/4 sec. Besides getting used to the D750, I am also experimenting with the iPhone, which has shot some nice pictures! This was shot with an app called Provoke that David Johnson mentioned.
Great textures and patterns here Sheree.
Many thanks, Tessa.
Nice job. Great detail.
Thanks, Sara.
Nice one Sheree. Lovely patterns and all the text and logos add variety. Well done
Nice use of patterns, this works well in B/W.
B&W does a great job here to highlight the texture of the corks and contrast the winery names. Nice work, Sheree!
One more post for the good of the order (what ever that means…). This is a pewter Christmas ornament that caught my eye. I don’t recall how I did that multiple image view but I like it as an abstract more or less in B&W blue tones. NikonD53; 1/2sec; f/6.3; 62mm; ISO100. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1ea9a6263f52b6b6cf9f2e04060d7e56b89be159fcdc7668d02b19369efb096a.jpg
Interesting abstract Leila. Good Job!
Fabulous shot….the movement wit the slowish SS was possibly were the ‘multiple’ exposure came from….it works brilliantly here!
I really like the effect Leila! I thought it was a shell at first glance. Well done.
Leila. Different and nice. Well done.
Leila, it’s a nice monochrome blue picture. As I see some movement between the strong extremities I suppose you zoomed in/out to get this picture.
I like the effect you’ve achieved here Leila (however you managed it!) – makes for an interesting shot.
Lovely image.
A nice effect, Leila! Sometimes these things just happen!
Lovely abstract Leila, very well done
Leila, I like the pinwheel effect that draws my eyes from the upper right hand corner around to the central star. The blur adds mystery to make you more hypnotized, as your eyes keep going around in circles.
Hi, here is the same image in pure black and white. Which is preferable? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/81dc06b2d636fa3ff5c3a99c50f810a6f35d6435845be4d1e5af60929300fbde.jpg
This is good and meets the brief. Makes for an interesting abstract.
I think I’m a purist here – and prefer this black and white over the blue tinted previous image. Love the way you used the slower shutter speed to create the ghosting, arty image. For me I’d like a little more space around this ornament. Well done. Brent
This is my third B & W post. This is a Salish Indian tepee located on the grounds of St Mary Mission in Stevensville, MT. What I thought made this a really cool picture was the clouds which seemed to mimic the Tepee lodge poles & vice versa. Also, I thought they made for some really interesting leading lines but I am not sure that they really lead you to the point of interest. I am having some issues with my computer so all I was bale to do with this image was to clone out some distracting elements and do a slight crop. I shot this at ISO 100, 18mm, F11 & 1/320 sec in harsh mid-day sunlight. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0881ebf751cd2b9ef069fc5a09adcbc72517784a95f74cebe46344a50a1f6952.jpg
Nice photo Jim. Great detail and sharpness to the image. That cloud does seem to take your eye to the teepee.
Thanks Rachel.
Jim. Nice shot. Good clarity and light given your conditions. Something not driving it home foe me, maybe it is a modern canvas depicting an old and historical structure.
Thanks Denis.
Jim, nice B&W picture. Good compoition. Great texture in the clouds. There form are almost a reflection in the sky of that tepee. Well done.
Thanks Christian.
Great job.
Thanks Sara.
This is a really good shot, Jim! I love your composition and the clouds!
Thanks Sheree.
Great image Jim. Love your composition and that even the clouds cooperate as leading lines
Thanks Erez.
I like all the different contrasts, Jim. The clouds on the left hand side have spicules, just like the top of the teepee.
Thanks Peter. Stop by and see us at our farm 45 min north of Columbus if you get back to Buckeye land.
Thanks for the offer, Jim. I will let you know if I am coming into Columbus for a weekend.
great capture ,the taper of the teepee takes you right into the cloud above ,the contrast colors are good & its nice & sharp ,Good One Jim
Thanks Peter.
Great picture Jim. Beautiful contrast. The cloud formation is an added bonus. Well done
Thanks Romy. Just lucky to be at the right place at the right time.
The shapes and contrasts all work well here, Jim. What a beautiful stretch of clouds high in the sky.
Iced Chocolate. Yum!
Another shot in a genre that I have a challenge with. Seldom take a good portrait and this one has issues but could not pass on the expression of contentment. 50mm f/1.4 set at f/1.4, 1/60 sec, ISO 400.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/420cdf3d4f965b7f8169ca6129cf5294900451f0f06b21a3e494e47972553c38.jpg
Love it….great candid shot!
Thanks Christine.
Rachel. These are my favourite shots. Off the cuff. Great expression here. Well captured, nice light and balance throughout. I my view a very nice shot. Well done.
Thanks Dennis.
Love this Rachel. Full of character and fun and great catchlights in the eyes. One small comment – the eyes could be in better focus, particularly the one nearer the camera – f/1.4 doesn’t give you much DoF to play with for portraits. Still a really great shot, though!
Thanks Tessa.
Lovely job.
Thanks Sara.
Lovely shot, Rachel! REally nice character in her face and you certainly captured her contentment!
Thanks Sheree.
Cool portrait – great expression, love it
Thanks Erez.
Great job telling a story about a woman enjoying an ice cream soda, Rachel. So expressive.
Thanks Peter.
Great capture, Rachel. This is precious!
Thanks Kerrie.
BTW, she’s 96 years old!
Fantastic…so good to see her enjoying life!
She’s my partners mum and at this age, still has a sharp mind and quirky sense of humor. Pretty easy lady to get along with.
Rachel, this make the shot even better.
Beautiful portrait shot Rachel. She’s really enjoying her iced chocolate. Great capture of the moment. I suggest you make a big print and have it framed. Then you can give it to her as a gift. Well done.
Thanks Romy.
Rachel, wow! Nicely done. Great focus and catchlights with the eyes, and you caught the moment perfectly. Super use of shallow depth of field. A very minor tweak to consider would be to tone down the blown-out top of her outfit on top of her shoulder. Great image and would look very nice printed on your wall!
Thank you Bill. I missed that bit on her shoulder.
Great shot, great expression, captured the moment just right, well done.
Thank you John.
The facial expression is priceless. I see both surprise and contentment. Great capture!
Thanks Sig.
Re-posting this after a fix, as someone noticed the blown out highlights on her right shoulder.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/865db4a725764e9ff98af80f518323cfb9fb00f427126da92d41d0fc2fb39124.jpg
She makes drinking that look so enjoyable. Nice clarity of her eyes and her blouse.
Thank you Jeff.
What a great expression!
Yum indeed! What a great expression as this lady is caught enjoying her treat. Her eyes and nose are a bit soft, but when using f/1.4, it’s hard to get the focus bang on. The sharpest part seems to be the pattern in the blouse on the shoulder at the left of the image. Personally, I find it tricky to photograph people who wear glasses.
Thanks everyone for your comments on my previous efforts – much appreciated! This is a shot that I took when I was out walking yesterday. It would probably have been a whole lot better if I’d gone today, as the sun’s out now – this was taken in pretty dull and flat light. It was taken in auto as a jpeg as I was using the bridge camera I share with my husband – I usually shoot in RAW on manual when I’m using my own camera. In Lightroom I cropped, applied a B&W Punch preset and used a vignette to help focus on the bales. I then used a radial filter to reduce the exposure on the bales, so that the texture came out more. Not the most inspiring shot, but I quite liked the patterns that B&W brings out and the way it makes an agricultural scene look almost industrial. Canon PowerShot SX60 HS at 22mm 1/500 sec f/5.0 ISO 400 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/410ec6d05e6de2c6090ff94c063c9aa2a8507a7f1e626513ea542ca008eab989.jpg .
Nice contrast and textures Tessa. Good processing too. Thanks for sharing the process.
Thanks Erez
Tessa. A very good timely shot. It is simple and well produced. A fair weight on that trailer for sure. Well done.
Thanks Denis
Hi Tessa, I like the composition of the bales along with the tires. Is there a way to bring back the sides of the bales that are blown out?
Thanks Peter. The blown out look is largely due to the high-contrast preset that I put on. I’ve posted a revised version where I’ve addressed it above.
I like the edited version better, Tessa.
Love how you brought out the texture in the bailed hay.
Tessa, it certainly has a lot of texture. Good contrast with the background. Perhaps you could straighten up the horizon. Well done.
I love all the textures in this shot! Just shows that we need our camera with us at all times! 😉
Tessa, this is a solid composition, and great range of tones and textures throughout. The horizon could be straightened via the crop dialog in LR. The tops of the bales are pretty blown out — you could use an adjustment brush to pull the exposure/highlights down to bring that back. These are just minor tweaks to consider — overall excellent image and well done.
Thanks Bill. I left the horizon as it was in real life – this was on the slope of the South Downs, but I appreciate your viewpoint. The blown out white came largely from the high-contrast preset I used. I’ve posted a revised version.
The dull flat light helped with the contrast of light and dark. I think this turned out really well.
Following comments below, here is an amended version with a straightened horizon line and the clipped whites removed. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4104ce89bf9e799165377db73beb158ff78650cfa7f6a4c67cbbb013de11fd92.jpg
Well done on the edits. Much better. Dull and flat light is not always the enemy.
For all you cat lovers out there. Saw this little cutie on my back fence yesterday morning so I had to get some images of it. ISO 2000, 300mm, f6.3 1/125.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/50a7328514e159e156a0ffcf8fcb58562502ce181b695948da77da137a0f9197.jpg
Hi Jim. You captured a good moment here. Very nice Head shot, good eyes and sharp ears showing the cat’s interest/curiosity. Well done.
Thanks Denis.
I like this shot Jim. The eyes are sharp. Great capture.
Thanks Romy.
This is an aw moment! Very nice shot and nicely framed. While his eyes are sharp, there is a lovely softness around his face! Nice capture!
Thanks Sheree.
Like this one great pose from the cat, nicely done
Thanks John.
Beautiful facial lighting and nicely framed! What would it look like if you softened the stronger light patch on his back? My eye keeps going to that patch and I want to stay focused on the eyes/face.
Thanks Brenda and thanks for the feedback and suggestion. I see what you mean so used a reverse graduated filter and angled it from the left bottom corner to the middle. I like it better now, what do you all think?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6c183975e5cd168eb97815e386a9be9f04be8230ee203c04fe9167155f619f1c.jpg
I like cats, mostly! I like this shot. It definitely has it’s eyes on something.
Great capture of a great pose. I like this version more. The blurred leaves near the head add depth. Very nice
Sweet little baby. Great focus on those eyes. I like how you blurred the background but still maintained the color. Well done Jim.
Jim well done.
I have so many ‘cats I have known’ coming to mind as I look at this image. I think you have done a great job of capturing the intense focus of the cat while she watches her subject. The darker tones in the coat nicely frame the cat’s head.
Hello Everyone. This is a photo of driftwood sculpture of an antelope taken at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. ISO 640 F4 74mm 1/125 sec .
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6a25abae91216a4af5b63ff48759082ea68df456323117186698162ef1ee13d0.jpg
what a great Sculpture ,it looks so real leaping out of the bushes & the dark grill mesh wall just accentuates the contrast ,Great shot
Hi Peter. Thanks for the comments. Glad you like it.
Interesting picture. Good composition. It’s a pitty of the background. You can’t help it. I have the same problem when I am in an exposition. An equally black background would give an added value.
Thanks Christian. Your comment about a black background is well noted. I will try to do some masking of the steel mesh background to darken it when I have the time.
Hi Rev. This form of art is of great interest to me. It amazes me how they shape a perfect sculpture well to my eye anyway. You have captured a very nice Art Form here with the various texture and tones. Well done.
Thanks so much Denis.
Love this and the textures captured! So great in this forum, we get to travel the world through everyone’s vision! 🙂
Many thanks , Sheree. I really appreciate your comments.
This is a really nice composition — almost looks as if the antelope is going to leap the bush to the right. Outstanding sense of dynamic motion. Great juxtaposition of the light antelope against the dark mesh background. The midtones in the base provide a good range of tones to go with the mostly black/white remainder of the picture. Was your histogram kind of a “U” shape? (lots at the dark and light ends, not much between)
Thank you so much, Bill. The histogram was more of a slope tapering to the right. I posted a second version with darker background that you can comment on if you have the time. Thanks again.
This is a really neat photo. Good composition and great, sharp detail. You converted from color!? Brent’s latest mini Master course, on converting from color to B&W covered this. Maybe bring up your BLACK and when you go to B&W decrease the GREEN. That should darken the background foliage and give you a bit more contrast. Playing with the ‘contrast’ you can almost get a 3D effect.
Thanks a lot Rachel. I did try adjusting the sliders but the effect was very minimal. I had to use adjustment brush to darken the background some more in the second photo above. Thanks again.
This is the version with the darker background as Rachel and Christian have suggested.
I have got to buy a Wacom tablet. Thanks again for all the comments.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9eb2439a67435735d3f486e69022ecd365653a74f929fdc92cc03de022ce50f3.jpg
Cool image of a nice sculpture. Love the composition and the sharp details. I like both versions. Since the antelope is bright it gets the attention anyway. The bright bush at the bottom-right grabs attention and I think should be darkened, but it is a minor issue and the image is lovely
Great image. I like the contrasting colors between the Antelope and flowers to the background. Well done.
I like this one better, the pattern behind the antelope was a bit distracting. Well done.
Nicely done to darken that background with this revised edit. It’s a beautiful sculpture, and the B&W treatment shows off the beautiful texture in the driftwood.
Sunset at Hamilton Is ,color image converted & rehashed ,shot from a high point where every evening at Sunset they have Drinks & snacks for the visitors .Sony A65 , Sigma 18-125mm , 1/500 , S-P , f11 , iso100 , 35mm .Tri pod used. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/16cf038649537bea48e69a40d34a3ac2830c1381283bebb811fdf02fac22b2ee.jpg
Hi Peter. It looks a very nice spot. I like the shot itself in particular the sunset/whispey cloud centre/right. The foreground would be a bit dark for my taste. That said it is a good shot and well done.
I tried to lighten the shadows but the bush in the gap at front went like polarized glasses looking at a tv ,maybe it is lens flair .if you open it in full screen you will see what i mean ,post production is my weak point .
Nice sunset shot Peter. Great job.
Thank you Romy
Beautiful, Peter. Very moody, and love your clouds. I agree with Denis that you could lighten the foreground a bit.
thanks Sheree hope you like the 2nd version better
Ok I have had another go at presenting my photo ,it looks better to me so I hope you like it .This boot camp is working by making me go back & think a little harder about my shot & fix up the lighting ,so thanks Denis for the little push. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3de7c5c88a0785261750fafc2fd2eae03275b22aca64192d34a3673f64762dfd.jpg
Peter, the lighting in this is much better overall in my view from back to front. The difference is subtle but there. The light on the sunset is softer. The middle headland comes into play as does the water with a nice soft glow. Yes and even the foreground has a softness to it and you can see the top forms/branches of the bushes. In my view a more rounded and balanced shot. Well done on this. Great work.
Thank you so much Denis
Hi Peter. Only suggestions. You did all the work. Well done again and you are very welcome.
Peter, this version is a definite improvement. Focus still on the stunning sunset, and the lighter foreground gives a better sense of depth to the picture. The sky looks a bit darker, which is also a good adjustment. You might want to consider cropping in a bit from the right, which would give a somewhat different look. Nice work.
Just beautiful! Yes, the brighter one is better.
This second version is gorgeous. A lot more detail.
The second version is great. Beautiful dramatic sky without loosing all the details in the foreground
Agree the second shot creates an overall feeling. Beautiful.
WOW!! Both images are really striking. Love the light in the sunset, and the darkness of the trees. Nice capture of the whispy clouds too. Great photo Peter.
Peter, great job on both shots.
Hi all. This is my last shot in this challenge. I was walking back towards Shop Street from the “Long Walk ” and came accrues this “Galway Girl”. as you can imagine she had a large audience and so I just went “CLICK”. This is the result. I like these quick candid shots and that is all this is. Hope you enjoy and that it gives you all a flavour of what happens on a daily basis around every corner of this City. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1975d23300635fd14b5b2a08ee03cf07e97fbe8f85d4b4b3b242128b19d1cf3b.jpg
I love this great candid shot! She has movement in her arms, flags are flying. Also guessing the buildings are in colour in the background and the flags? Probably a great colour shot too! 🙂
Sheree. Indeed it does. Many thanks for the feedback.
Denis, great picture. Good composition. Luckily there stood someone behind her with gray/light hair. So the pole didn’t “grow” from her head. :-)) Great with that action: feeds from the ground,… Well done.
Christian. many thanks for that feedback. I did not even notice the pole. No composition even considered. Pointed and went click.
I really like these candid captures of everyday life! Even in B/W, this photo gives off a vibrant vibe.
Hi Brenda. Many thanks for that feedback.
Great shot Denis, I have seen that girl and you have captured what she is all about.
Hi Andrew. Many thanks for the feedback.
Love this shot Denis. Looking to be over there in the next year or two. Maybe she’ll still be there and I’ll get my own shots.
Hi Rachel. No doubt she will unless she gets appointed to the Riverdance Team!!!!. Many thanks for your feedback.
Love the capture of joy in her face and there is some motion to show there was performance going on at that time.
Hi Point. Many thanks for the feedback.
Well done Denis. I like the clarity of the whole photo, and the nice use of b/w
Very nice Denis!
Wonderful job Denis! it really shows the vibrance of the city.
You captured what looks to be a happy moment in the day with a bit local culture as a bonus. Tells a good story, Denis.
My last submission for this B&W challenge is called ‘Hollywood’ https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/49a4e2b1dd76665690ff5ad5dee76d9b2cbeb600ed3757f5c36a2971460793b0.jpg
Christine. This is good work. I like the whole composition. Very nice neutral background with exception of the shadow on top. Great facial expression and that one eye contact says it all. Are you for real!!!!. Great shot.
Thanks Denis….you know i never noticed the shadow until you pointed it out. I am thinking this was from the studio lighting and the settings of my SS. Not sure….:)
Christine, this a classic one. But you did it very well. Sharp eye. Some “action” with his glasses.It’s not too visual, but I agree with Denis about that shadow on top. Overall a very good picture. Good composition. Well done.
Thanks Christian 🙂
Great sharpness, composition and tones!
Thanks Brenda 🙂
A very classy shot – fabulous!
Thanks Sig 🙂
Rerro, You really nailed this one … a classic composition with the arm and hand leading to the face with a very sharp eye. The sense of motion compels the viewer to study this photo. Did you do this in studio ?
Thanks Richard….not in a studio, but i used a soft box to achieve this lighting.
Great classic looking portrait. I usually shy away from portraits because I have so much to learn, but should there be a bit of space over his head? What is typical?
Thanks Rachel….i think i cropped this one to get the eye on the intersecting lines of the rule of thirds. That was more important to me in this instance than having space above his head.
Gotcha! :o)
Really great shot! Love the title too!
Rerro, I like the way the light reflects off the model’s face. You can sense his pensive mood. Great job.
Thanks Peter
I like how I cannot tell if this was done in a studio or not. The direction of the light gives the impression of light.
This is another area I need to practice on. I even have the poor man’s grid for my speedlight. :p
Thanks Point….the lighting setup i have is the cheapest on the market….but was a good option while i am learning.
Yet another great “classic” portrait. Love the composition, directing and lighting. Impressive work.
Can you share your illumination setup? I guess one large light source from the image right and above, but was it the only light here?
Thanks Erez, i am using just one light source, a soft box with diffused light. I placed that to the models left….he was looking straight at it, and i was almost underneath the box…just to the right of the light
Thanks for sharing
Hi Rerro, great shot. Has the Hollywood mood.
Thanks Janice
Great composition! He really does look like Mr. Cool!
Thanks Valerie
This works well in B/W. Great focus on the whole photo, and yes the sunglasses make the photo. Well done Rerro.
Well done! Great use of light, texture and detail.
You’ve successfully captured lots of sass and attitude with this one! I think it is well named. The lighting and focus on the model’s left eye is bang on; almost like he is finished teasing the onlookers before retreating behind the super star glasses.
End of the Season. Getting ready to head home from the lake. f/9, 1/40 sec, 25mm, ISO 100. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3934fb3b4fb34b4ca0276579954fcf802da652f93b1eaa72fba9dd6bc5edc3a5.jpg Nikon D3400 with kit lens.
Oh wow! I can feel how sucky it is realizing the season is done. The moodiness of the image really conveys that. I lived in the North East and experienced this time and time again. Love the fishing rod pointing out to the empty lake. There is so much here that I can relate to.
Being picky…maybe a bit more detail in the clouds and a smaller aperture for more DoF.
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for your comment. See my note to Jim (above) on getting detail out of the clouds.
Bill
Love your composition and the story!
Ah . . . serenity. The texture of the wood and the line of the rod pointing out to where you want to be draw me into this scene.
Love the lines and curves. I like the moody feel it gives.
Nicely done Bill. I totally get the feeling the picture is conveying. The peacefulness of the water and having to say goodbye until next season. I agree with Rachel though. I think you might be able to get more detail in the clouds, the dock and the trees with a few adjustments in LR. Give it a shot and see what you think. Really great shot.
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your comment. This is one of those cases where I had very little to work with in the sky. The area has been afflicted by smoke from fires in the Pacific Northwest and Canada, which makes for colorful sunsets, but has turned the sky a dreary monochrome gray-brown otherwise. Kind of reminds me of my youth in Los Angeles in the early 1960s, except my eyes don’t sting as much and you can see a little farther. I was pretty aggressive with the sliders in LR already — I’m usually a lot more subtle with the edits, and even dropped a grad filter on the sky to bring out what little I could. Had to use selective brush to re-lighten the dock and tire after pulling down the sky and water to gain the detail I did. I originally thought of doing a more desaturated look to fit the melancholy mood of the shot, but it was just boring that way. Would also have considered swapping out the sky but I’m not a fan of doing that.
Here’s the original conversion, showing my initial take. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/67817740fdf1160da858fd80ab462c64514cf977b80fb874522f6127634fd970.jpg
Bill, great composition. Very nice horizon. Good use of all the detail on the foreground. On the wall this picture would give a peaceful moment in our daily rat-race. Well done.
Hi Bill. Yes all good things must come to an end. My late father used to say to us as kids ” you have to go home to come back”. A very nice shot with good tones and light. Were you standing upright when you took this shot?. I wonder if you got down lower the next time how that would look? Well done.
Hi Denis, thanks for the good words. I actually was kneeling when I took the shot. There were boats on either side of the dock so had to get close to nail the composition (still had to crop a little) and had to get lower to get the angle on the fishing rod I wanted.
Great composition that nicely tells the story.
As others said, you can extract detail in the sky, but I think that it is good that you haven’t done that. Looking at your image I immediately feel calmness. For me this is the mood here, so no drama is required in the sky. The drama is in the story which you emphasize nicely on the doc. Very well done
I love this shot! With the darkened sky, it is like the calm before the storm. Not a ripple on the water, but definitely time to pack it up before the rain falls. The different textures in this picture are great too. Smooth water, the rough trees in the background, the tire tracks and the best is the wooden pier.
Great way to create leading lines that draw you into the photo. Well done.
I also like the leading lines from the pole, to the end of the dock, to the tip of that piece of land in the distance. Well done Bill.
Lovely image, could be an ad in a magazine.
Where did he/she go? Hopefully not to an emergency, it’s too peaceful here for that. What a great shot! Well thought out and what a story it leaves.
Lovely image, Bill. The water is so peaceful. I like what you have done with it, especially getting down for that lower point of view.. I know exactly what you mean about the flat skies laden with smoke as I live in Calgary and it has been very smoky here, too. I believe you did well to get as much detail as you did here.
My final submission for this challenge: Nikon D200, ISO 100, 1/80, f5.6, 200mm, handheld; While I like the original format as shot in color, the slightly distractive elements became more distractive in B/W, so I cropped it square.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a04c78f67affb1fa94133cee9eee4e6fb4635751906a27d6e2195018361dee3a.jpg
Love the detail and shallow DoF on this. Would like to see this without crop.
I love the shallow DoF in this shot! Perhaps a little more contrast?
The detail is really nice, especially when you look at the full view. Great job on the DOF & bokeh too. I think I might change the crop so the tips of the pedals are in the frame. Maybe try playing with the clarity, shadows and contrast to see if you can bring even more detail out.
Brenda, very nice picture. I wonder if there is a little shaky effect. I see you had 1/80 for 200mm handheld. Personally I would have used higher speed and higher ISO to have the same result. Well done.
Hi Brenda. A lovely shot. The focus looks a little soft to me, most likely to do with your shutter speed. 1/80 at 200mm is hard when hand held. All that said I like the concept and the composition is good. Well done.
Beautiful image and very nice details and DOF.
I agree with Jim regarding the crop so.
Thanks all, for the feedback. I’ve opened up the crop to see the full image, bumped up the contrast, and added some clarity. I’m not finding quite as much control with Photoshop’s Camera Raw as I do in Lightroom, but hopefully, this is an improvement. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/19989b8a5c40aca8c153f97fdd18f6e288d524b42c235469ea83107d1bacf2a0.jpg
I prefer this version Brenda, but I think that this beautiful capture worth more work in post: you can crop on the left without cutting the petals and for the distracting plant behind – you can clone it out in PS (I propose to use as source the dark area above, so you gain extra vignetting on the way) or just darken and blur it more. The same applies to the bottom right distraction.
It is a beautiful capture as is, but with a little work at post it will be gorgeous. Cloning must be done in Photoshop, but darkening and blurring can be done using Lightroom’s radial filter and/or brush.
Me too I prefer this version @rtbp99:disqus
Me too. Beautiful photo.
You’ve captured beautiful light hitting this flower from behind. I like this crop where the whole flower can be seen.
I like the cropped version a little better, it allows the focus on just the flower instead of the rest of the plant. I like the highlighted tips of the part in the middle. Nice photo Brenda.
Well done. I like the square crop better, less distractions. Great detail.
I wanted to experiment with the Black and White so I took one of my favourite photos titled “Resurrection”—and taken just days after Cayman was devastated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. I saw the sunrise and went to a place I thought would be nice and there was a fisherman sitting there. We chatted about the devastation and all of a sudden he was hooked up! When the fish came up, I nearly dropped my camera off the dock! I was so excited and this was really the shot I was after. I think it also works well in B&W.
Taken with a Fuji S2 ISA100 18mm f 3.5 1/125 sec.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d9dbedbce46c0f3f2fd2d7151c87dedfa71ff42c675ca91b44bcb2f7258460d1.jpg
Sheree, fantastic silhouette showing great emotion and reflection.
Thanks, Peter!
Excellent shot – this is one of those shots that gives a feeling that there is a story to tell.
Thanks…. and yes there is a very emotional story—the calm after the storm. This man was an electrician and I think lost all his possessions…… he was fishing for breakfast. When I sat on the dock, I asked if I could photograph him, he was hesitant, but OK when I told him he would just be a silhouette…… I gave him a copy of the photo when I was able to print it. He had his fishing line in his mouth while trying to unhook the little fish…. I cannot explain how excited I was and have no idea how I got the shot!
Great story @disqus_fGWrfrmXu3:disqus – love how you used the low angle to show how he is bigger than the devastation and can rise again. Well done. Brent
Sheree, this is a beautiful silhouette photo. You really got the shot. Nice one for framing. Good job.
A dramatic yet calm feel about the picture. Great job Sheree in capturing the moment.
Sheree, great picture with a silhoette. Nice tones of gray in the water and the sky. Well done.
A very special photo. Love it.
Hi Sheree. A great shot and silhouette . A nice sky and I like the way the light plays on the water. A well balance shot. Well done.
Excellent. Dramatic yet well balanced shot and a silhouette that tells a story. Great capture and wonderful image
When I first looked at this it created a sense of grieving and then I read your comments below. The picture does a great job of creating what you intended!!
He looks like he is in deep contemplation. Nice capture of his emotions along with the beautiful sky above him. Well done Sheree.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/43d6df85eaf5c7b548d577035a3c1bdc8ce42fd4c135e950084ff540fbb21673.jpg This is a photo I took in a cemetery in Buenos Aries, Argentina. It is a statue outside a mausoleum for the person. It was taken at sunset at ISO 100, 28mm, f/5.6, and 1/50 sec. The person had to be an animal lover, which attracted my eye, as a veterinarian. I liked the shadow on the wall and reflection of her head in the window to add to my reflecting on the person’s life.
I love this, especially the shadow on the wall! Beautiful.
Thanks, Sheree.
You got a two-fer! A shadow and a reflection!. For me, it is kind of spooky. Good shot Peter!
Thanks, Napoleon.
Peter, it is special. Good use of light and shadow. Great to see the shadow on the wall and that reflection. Well done.
Thanks, Christian.
Nice shot Peter. Lots of detail and sharp. You have to wonder about the back story.
Thanks, Rachel. She had to love dogs.
Hi Peter. I like this shot. Good use of light and maximising its effect. I like the tones and they are well balanced. Well done.
Thanks, Denis.
Beautiful shot Peter. I suspect this shot if in colour would not have the same mood as it does in B&W. Maybe just crop the left side slightly to remove the sliver of the wall corner. Great photo. I really like it.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/780bf53ed61aea0b3c599309cc152037936b2ca41199a67e796df6eb54d9c5b7.jpg Thanks, Andrew. I cropped the left side a bit to remove the corner of the wall and still preserve the reflection.
I really like this. It looks like a pencil sketch. Very well captured!
Thanks, Valerie.
Perfect
Andrew, thanks for your help.
Great capture – and nice final touches in that crop
Thanks, Brent.
Well done. Great texture and detail.
Thanks, Sara.
Very nice photo. I also like the shadows on the wall, with the limited light you had to work with.
Thanks, Jeff.
I also really like the shadow. The textures and details in the statues are beautiful.
Thanks, Judy.
A lone woman in a pink raincoats looks over her shoulder on her bicycle as she navigates through the chaos of 15 million speeding motorcycles swirling through the monsoon rains like swarms of bees on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The myriad of vibrant colours in this commotion make this woman nearly in distinguishable, but in black and white, she becomes the centre of focus. Canon 5D IV ISO 200, 1/40 sec. f/13, 35mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f31fff500ea6987c66bc2450ece089bcfbe0d9af56d8b2d2579a35aa1c7adf14.jpg
Derryl, This is a really good shot. Lots of movement and the woman in the light raincoat is nicely isolated. I may have tried to bring her raincoat up a bit to make her more distinct, but it is good as is!!!
My eye goes directly to the light coated rider. Great way to grab attention, I just wish I could see her face. Good shot and good conversion to B&W.
Great shot Derryl. In B&W your POI jumps out at you. Looks like she might be a bit intimidated by all the scooters around her.
Haha! Intimidating is an understatement. Crossing the road is teriffying. No car, bike or truck slows down. The just “miss” you!
How is this Sheree and Napoleon? I have lightened the bike rider and also the road she is riding into giving more reflection of the tires on the wet pavement.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/318d5763f461b651d6cd7c5f21f35a66289e60714a5c1b1036a7299b6e6a45d4.jpg
Definitely like this version better….. Great processing! really cool how the reflection popped too!
Oooo… I’m a sucker for reflections. Great job Derryl!
I really like this shot- the story being told, the stark contrast as a black and white image and that the woman stands out so well. Good job on bringing the POI even more into focus by lightening her and the road. You can almost hear the noise in this image as well. The roar of the motorbikes all around the woman and herself on a frail bike slipping through the midst of the chaos.
Derryl, great job of bringing out your point of interest in this second version.
Yeah like it
Better.
Hi Darryl. Very good use of B/W here. The main subject is sharp, clear and stands out from the rest of the field. Good sense of motion in this shot as well with the blurred background. Well done.
You managed to transfer the chaotic feel of the city and the motion of the riders. Great image.
Love the way you’ve highlighted the bike, great image
I agree with you Derryl, she does stick out as the main part of the shot, and it really works for this photo. Nice use of contrasting colors.
Wow @DerrylF:disqus love this shot. That lone cyclist stands out amongst all the scooters with that raincoat. Like how you’ve used the slower shutter speed to show movement. Brent
Great shot Derryl! Curious as to how this looked in color. Too busy?
Lovely and scary at the same time. I don’t think I would want to drive there, yikes. Great job!
Excellent use of B&W to highlight the cyclist and super effective use of shutter speed. Terrific shot, Derryl.
This was taken with a camera that does not have a flip screen with a two pound lens attached holding the assembly above my head. My family was waiting for me to get the shot so that we could get home from vacation.
This is a SOOC shot using Acros with red filter film sim with one full stop underexposure to brighten the morning glory. Cropped to square format.
The 50-140 zoom lens was at the 140mm length @ f/5.6, 1/200 sec, ISO 400.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fcc044c7803ad3bd9ddeaa85655d6122f398ae62a95bb25f9fa4925e7e4dfd97.jpg
Holy bug!!! This is fantastic. I do not understand what your shooting details mean; “SOOC using ACROS”… but it is beautiful! Nice contrasts and crisp, clean shot!
Hope your family is a little more patient with your photography than mine!! 🙂
This is great straight out of the camera shot, Point. It was worth all the wait and I am sure your family also love this photo. I admire your patience waiting for the bug to settle for you to have a clear shot of the bug. Just fantastic. Well done !
What?! Great capture with the bug in the flower!
Point, very nice picture. The flower pops due to the great contrast with the background. Lovely to see that small creature in detail because of the great contrast with the flower. You were very patient (and your family too). Well done.
Love your flower PR. Also like that you got the two critters in there. Everything is super sharp. Great job.
Hi Point. This is a very nice capture. Well composed and taken. The bonus is the little Bug in the centre of the flower head. Well done.
Hi Point, love the delicate white flower, so sharp. Well done.
Lovely and well composed image. The flower pops and the insects add interest and life. The dark textures around makes it more interesting without fighting on attention with the main subject. Well done.
Love the contrast, really shows up well in B&W
Point you have a really great capture here. Beautiful contrast between the flower head and the background. Plus a bonus of the little bug in the flower head. Well done
It was worth the effort
Looks like the wait paid off, Nice focus on the bee and the flower. I like how white the flower is, and how black the bee is. Well done Point.
Well worth the wait. Fantastic image.
Tack sharp image and that bug in the centre is highlighted so nicely by the bright flower. I think that you chose the exposure well to capture the right amount detail.
A story of a million years in the making.
Probably one of the most photographed canyons in the world, the beauty of the Antelope Canyons is that you probably see something different every time you go in. What I see here (and that’s what I call it) is Superman’s Punch. It’s surprising (at least for me) that the color version, with it’s rich reds and orange hues, works well because the colors really attract. The B&W works just as well because I think it makes one look at the textures, lines, and shapes without the color distraction.
Shot during the middle of the day, with a tripod, with settings at f/11, 24mm and three bracketed exposures. Thank you.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eb6dcf507404feb1ed0c5a8f906fdae2799748eaceca7fb95ffc57d19fbeb53d.jpg
Holy cow Napoleon, this is absolutely awesome!
I’m so glad you like it Rachel, thank you very much. 🙂
Napoleon, it surely has some spooky effect. Without your explanation, it could be movement in clouds or water. Very nice.
Thanks Christian!
Hi Napoleon. Very nice interesting shot. I particularly like the way the light plays out. It brings out the lines, textures and tones very well in my opinion. Well done.
I appreciate that Denis, thanks!
Fabulous image. Great job in using the harsh light conditions to your favor. Love it
Thank you very much Erez, glad you like it.
I love Antelope Canyon….. You have done a good job with handling this. It is very hard to get the exposure right on these. There is some blow out, but all the textures and lines work really great!
Technically it can be difficult to get photos. I’m just glad I planned for it and learned from my mistakes. Cheers and thank you!
Wow I really like this sho. It has lovely flowing lines and great texture and the light playing across the the picture is marvellous. Good job.
Thank you David! 🙂
I’ve always wanted to visit that area… this shot makes me even more determined. Stunning in B/W!
Glad to be of assistance in making you more determined to go there. Enjoy!
Napoleon, this is breathtaking. Could you post the color version ? I am sure it is just as amazing.
The color version at your request. Now I’m curious to know, which do you like better?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f4dd901dae8753c27a13464aadc3431c1763dd253a74636f308ea3a2340c0a76.jpg
Great shot of a difficult subject. I agree with you about the black and white as I find it easier to see the details. Both are very good!
Thanks Valerie!
I feel the black and white is more dramatic and amazing with the many lines coming out more vividly. What an awesome place to visit. Thank you for posting the color one for comparison.
It’s kinda cool seeing both side by side.
B/W for sure!
I agree!
Black and white!
Me too. I think the B&W version allows the imagination to work even more.
B&W has more impact, but this is beautiful also.
Really great photo Napoleon, and thank you for sharing the colored version as well. The B/W version does work well too with the lines in the rocks and the light patterns. Well done. That colored version would look great in a frame.
Thank you much Jeff for your take. It’s actually cool to see how a person may like one over the other 🙂
OMG @napoleonflorece:disqus – just LOVE this image because I’ve been there, shot it too and never even thought of converting to B/W. Your image is rich in detail with all those textures, lines and shapes. I remember trying to bracket my shots because of the highlights but in B/W those highlights make the shot even better. Please do me a favour – print this on a canvas as large as your can (I’m talking taller than you) and hang it in your house so that it’s the first thing people see. Stunning!!! Brent
Thank you so much Brent! A print larger than me? Now that’s an idea!
Napoleon, I like the B&W version of this much better than the color version. It allows the eye to examine the beautiful shapes and textures without the destruction of color. Very nice work.
Thank you Richard 🙂
I love this Napoleon. In B&W it makes a brilliant abstract image. If you hadn’t explained what it was, I probably would have thought it was swirls of fabric. Beautiful!
Thank you so much Tessa 🙂
Love it. Beautiful image.
Thank you Sara! 🙂
Could represent as an example of lines and patterns in a Masterclass book. Great.
Wow, thanks Hans!
Simply spectacular. The beauty of the forms and strata in the canyon is breathtaking. Thanks for sharing your process, Napoleon. Using bracketed exposures allows you to capture so much detail.
Indeed, it is beautiful inside the canyon. Yes, bracketed exposures is probably the best way to capture the beauty of the Antelope Canyons 🙂
I’ve never seen this in B&W and it is very stunning. I have never been but hope to one day. Fantastic shot!
This is sort of a re-post of my feather photo. I tried fixing it to no avail, so I decided to re-shoot it. This time with a 28mm ( 45mm FF equiv. ) f/3.5 lens, set at f/8, 1/60 sec/ ISO 400. I used a halogen lamp and shot it on a white background. The image shows lots more detail than the first. I like the results a lot better.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6f97619b87850949946059cc64f175c40c4a18c791f923e1f91a376eea3233da.jpg
Wow Rachel. Awesome shot. I love how the lines of the feather draw your eyes from right to left. The detail is excellent. Great job!
Thank you Jim. It’s way better than the original.
This is much better than the first version Rachel. Sharp detail. Good decision to improve on an already great first version.
Thanks Romy!
Hi Rachel. You have done a good job on this revisit. The detail is great with very good clarity. Well done.
Thanks Denis.
Beautiful delicate image Rachel, excellent job
Thanks Erez.
Really like this feather, lots of clear detail and nicely composed!
Thanks Sheree. The angle of the lighting on the original was not right. As much as I tried, the detail just wasn’t there.
I’m glad I re-shot it.
Rachel, yes a like this one better. Beautifully sharp with lots of detail. I really like that the feather comes out of the left corner leading your eye throughout the picture. Really good job.
Thanks David.
This is fantastic! What a great abstract image! Great idea. Well done.
Thank you Amber!
Fantastic job.
Here’s an oak tree I shot on the hill of a greenbelt area not far from my home during a morning walk. It was mid-morning so getting the exposure right was tricky and it did take some work in post. Any suggestions? Camera settings were ISO 250, 10mm, f18, 1/500 sec.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/67a736375e9bdfd8d88dbcfaa9196b208e9e7949b331dac465ca8db371aad3ac.jpg
Wonderful image Jim. Very well composed, love the contrast between sky and tree and the sun flare adds a lot
Hi Jim. I like the perspective, in that you are looking up at this great Oak. Gives a sense of reverence to it. Nice detail in the structure, tones and shadow. I might crop from the left into the sun so that the light is coming from that source. At present I find myself looking at the Oak , then the sun that nearly flared for you. Well done.
Looks like a good shot to me Jim.
RE: suggestions. maybe a different angle, so that you’re not shooting into the sun. I think you could then get a bit more detail in the clouds without the blowout.
This is nicely composed! My eyes are drawn to the tree and the details of the branches. Well done!
Hi Jim, overall a nice shot that is well composed. The sky is blown out and shooting into the sun like that is very difficult to prevent blow out. Could you have gone around the other side so that the sun would be behind you? Good job Sir.
Jim, great picture! I like the sun’s effect and the tree is a prime example.
Nice shot… I almost want to see a little more foreground. It’s always difficult to shoot into the sun. Is it possible to put the tree between you and the sun and get the sun flare through the branches?
Great focus on the tree. I like how I can see each little branch along with the strong part of the trunk. Nice capture of the sky as well.
Beautiful image! I would include just a bit more of the foreground so the hill runs to the edge (on the left). It feels a bit chopped off over there. Great subject and that sky is pretty cool!
Agree, just a little more breathing room around the tree @disqus_G9wzfywbn4:disqus would make this image stronger
Great job! Love trees. I agree with the suggestions below for a little more room around the tree as well as putting the sun in the branches. Oak trees make great subjects.
I like the view into the sun. My suggestion is to back up give that lovely tree more breathing room. The grassy hillside and the sky with the soft clouds are also nice elements in this composition.
Here is the shot of wild Kaimanawa horses in the mountain ranges in New Zealand. Chestnut horses are running on the vivid green hills. Converted to b&w. My settings were f5.6,1/1600s,ISO 640 at 170mm.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/88071725dc233ea0be5d5f7d5668c286355dc0e871225ff9b44b003c3f46b003.jpg
Janice, beautiful horses in a beautiful nature. Good B&W picture with good contrast between those horses and the background. Well done.
Gorgeous picture Janice. Great composition and perfect focus.
Hi Janice. A very good shot well framed and taken. The horses have room to move into the frame and you can feel their motion. Well done.
Janice you have taken a great shot here. I love the fact that they are running up hill going for the top left hand corner of the photo. You have also left room for them to run into. The photo is well composed and is tack sharp. Great job.
Gorgeous image Janice and great composition. I love that the start from the corner and create a diagonal line and still have space to go. Great one
Janice, This is a beautiful image … You have captured everything just right. I can almost hear the pounding hoofs going up the hill.
Wow, Great action and suited to B&W
Beautiful! Love the great details!
Wow, how lucky to shoot these wild horses Janice. Like how they are running up the hill and the leader is sharp with space to run into. Something I would do with this image is darken the horses and lighten the green grass (see my latest video) so that they stand out even more. Great capture. Brent
Which video is that Brent? Was it in an email?
Hi Derryl , yes it is in the latest email.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9b6d8531ca12c807e368b7aab9379949743df12047a6abe75f1be39d22c35e74.jpg Hi Brent, thanks for the suggestion, I watched the video again and lightened the green grass more.
And thank you all for the encouraging comments.
Now they pop even more – well done! Brent
Very powerful shot Janice. Great focus on horses and background. I like how you left room for the horses to run into. Well done.
Stunning! Reminds me of a scene from The Man from Snowy River! I can here the theme music now! I would consider a tighter crop but you may lose the space they are running into.
Wow, amazing shot Janice!!
Horses are such majestic creatures. Being this close to these wild horses is so special. Great work.
Lovely image. I would have thought it could be Montana or Wyoming here in the States. I would put this on my wall. Well done.
Another gorgeous shot, Janice. You’ve captured the beauty and power of these animals.
Cape Bowling – Scotland
18mm 1/60 sec f9.5 ISO 100
There is something about bare trees in winter that appeals to me, possibly because we do not have too many deciduous trees in Brisbane and possibly because these trees are just waiting for some warm weather to burst into life again. This tree seemed to be at a crossroad, waiting.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1a68701262db1ba9e8e767a91881613c18a2aa37bba3a88588d676fddd54ad8e.jpg
Andrew, very beautiful spot for walkers looking over the water. Nice fragile contrast between the tree and the background. Also nice leading linie by the walkway from the foreground to the right. Well done.
That’s a wonderful image. Love the composition.
Hi Andrew. This is a very nice composition. In my opinion you have kept it simple and it is very well taken. Very good work.
Hi Andrew, you have composed the shot very well with lots of foreground interest and I like the slivers of cloud off to the left of the tree. Good job.
Good job, Andrew. I too love trees, usually lone ones. Great job!
Beautiful composition and tones.
Hi Andrew. Such an awesome shot. Great composition and different tones. Perfect for B&W. Well done.
Very Nice photo! I like the reflection in the water and the shadows on the ground. Feels like winter is approaching.
Lovely composition – very peaceful!
There is just something about a lone tree begging to be photographed! Beautiful shot and great composition. Summer is just around the corner (for you at least…lol).
Great image Andrew – love that silhouetted lone tree, definitely the point of interest in this image. I like that it’s a crossroads as you mentioned but I think a leading line here would make the image stronger, maybe using the path by stepping to your right a little more and going lower. Just a thought. Brent
Thanks Brent. During the visit to Scotland when I took this picture I was being rushed by my impatient non-photographer brother. There were many photos I took during that trip that I would like to have done differently which is why I am planning a return trip. I have also learnt much more about photography since then and am getting even more tips and constructive suggestions through participating in the Bootcamp and the Challenges.
Time is the big thing we all need more of when travelling. Tomorrow is my last day in Bali and I could do with more time too. Brent
Beautiful image Andrew. I am a huge fan of bare trees and this is lovely.
Great image, one of my favorite subjects! The fence gives great lines toward the tree and the water as does the clouds on the left. Well done!
Still looking for things around the house to photograph to experiment with the camera and also now trying to figure out how a work flow between Lr and Ps!
This is actually a glass dish that I thought would work. Definitely better in B&W.
Nikon D750 with 24-70mm lens. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fabd6c78511af5fec2febd64e9ed77f068474431ac912ee56d3c0848f5597a2d.jpg ISO 800 34mm f2.8 1/10 sec.
Sheree, was this taken hand held or on a tripod.?
Such a cool idea Sheree!
Worth playing with additional lights. Can add some drama.
This is a fun shot! Maybe you could add a second light source that will highlight the bubbles a bit.
Nice photo Sheree. I like the bubbles in the middle of the shot. Fun photo.
Great creativity and texture.
Very creative Sheree. I think it is a fun image and as others have already suggested, maybe you could get more pop out of the bubbles and fish with some extra light. I know dealing with reflections on a subject like this can be tricky.
Blue Grotto Capri.
I have ummed and ahhed about posting this photo, I know there is so much wrong with it but I keep coming back to it so here goes.
1/80 sec f/3.5 ISO 6400 14mm https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6c28c3ab050716b1a89bea20a2af5b8e93328d66cdbe69e8f957e3548d305232.jpg
Hi Andrew. Go into Lightroom and try the following: Firstly level and crop to fit accordingly. Then use the sliders as follows: Exposure up to +1. Contrast +10. Highlights -99. Shadows +15. Whites +17. Blacks +23. Clarity +28. Sharpening +120. Masking 29. Luminence 18. and let me know what you think.
Thanks Denis, I will give it a go
Cool image. I like the dramatic lighting and the angle adds to the drama.
Maybe try to emphasize it even more – crop the image so the sea level will start near the bottom-right corner. Right side of the image does not contribute much anyway.
Thanks Erez appreciate the feedback and I will give it a go.
I love this, the water ripple is quite different to what you normally see. The light in the background takes your focus straight to the people in the boats. Well done.
Thanks Alan.
Very dramatic creating a spooky night mood. The light reflecting in the water draws your eye to the people in the boat.
I don’t find anything wrong with this shot at all. Very mysterious feel to this. I like how the light trickles towards the foreground. Well done Andrew.
I like it – tells a story of adventure and travel. Glad you posted – love that single light and the camera almost touching the water (very low perspective). Brent
I really like it and I don’t find anything wrong with it.
Thanks
Wonderful image for a wonderful memory. Photography is all about grasping that moment in time. Ultimately if you love it, you love it. That is all that counts. It’s always nice when other people like it too. Great story in the image.
Thank you
Thanks for posting, Andrew. I like the whacky angle – tells me you were bobbing around and quite close to the water. I especially like the lighting and how the surface of the water is softly illuminated.
Sheree. That may well be the case. I think hand held you were not giving yourself a chance. If you have a polarised filter try that also. It should help with any glare. I admire your creativity with all these new ideas you keep coming up with. Look forward to seeing the fruits of your endeavours.
Thanks for that. I would never have thought of using a filter. I may also try with a side lamp etc., tonight’s homework! 🙂
Thanks for that. I would never have thought of using a filter. I may also try with a side lamp etc., tonight’s homework! 🙂 I know I need to use a smaller aperture setting so all will come into focus….so some work to do!!
I tried really hard tonight to shoot again, maybe because the timing was different, the first was at night with lights, today I shot during the day with flashlights…just could not make anything work!!! I am going to keep going……. It is curved so very difficult to photograph without glare from somewhere! I used the polarising filter and an ND filter (for giggles!)—- but did not do well.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/29fadd65ab7a6e63b3f7143211ff01d9f56f1385e06edd30464594d19855f032.jpg Before it is too late, I thought I would give it a shot. I took this shot at a carpet/tapestry shop in Turkey. ISO 1250 f/3.5 1/50 sec 70mm Canon 6d.
Hi Quinn Schulze. Never to late.If you miss a challenge post you can always post on the Passion Project which is always open and get feedback from there. Your foreground is quite sharp and steady given your shutter speed and Focal Length. Well done on this. Was the spinning wheel an integral part of the image.?
Kind of – I wanted it blurry in the background, I took the picture during a tour, so as I was at the end and the tour had rounded the next corner I didn’t have a lot of time to think about it. It was a tour of how tapestries have been woven for centuries basically and it starts out with the silk cocoon. I guess I could have brought the wheel in a little sharper, but the POI is the cocoon. Sitting here thinking about it is really interesting… I can see that since I saw the picture first hand, it is clear to me that, that is a spinning wheel, but for someone else it is probably too vague and a better picture would have been to bring the wheel in more.
It does tell the story – well done for thinking about how to tell this story with an image – that’s photography with intention (as apposed to snap-shots). As you mentioned I think maybe 1/200sec would have been a better shutter speed at 70mm but good that you caught that too. Well done for entering this challenge @quinnschulze:disqus – Brent
Well done. I like the story behind the image.
Loved the texture surrounding the window (which is the POI)
of this old building . 1/100 f5.0 iso 100 28mm Lens 28-300mm f5.6
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eacf22ffc559c38672c296db8b1358ed19cae86f129da4d63ff67b87e49aa364.jpg
Hi Phyllis. Lovely shot. Nice texture and tone between the window and walls. As the window is the main POI I wonder could you afford to crop a little tighter.?
Hi, I love these type of shots! Great job!!
I agree thanks
Denis, I did as you suggested. Do you think it needs to be tighter or was this what you were talking about? Thanks Phyllis
Lovely textures and detail in this photo, Phyllis. I see that you lined up the shot to look through two windows. Very clever and creative. I’m thinking this would be a good candidate for HDR!?
Thanks for noticing 🙂
This decayed building is a great subject for B&W. Beautiful and well done
Thanks
Nice details, really like how you aimed through the window. Good job.
Thanks Valerie
Cool photo. Looks like the window is holding the whole building up. Haha. I like the grey tones in there as well.
LOL thanks!
Tried the suggestion of cropping a little tighter. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/91a3da053d6c47a8cb63d5deb211f1f98821321ca7635a31de3f6305976d932f.jpg
I think I like this one better. Great subject and detail.
Thanks Sara
B&W definitely does a great job of highlighting that texture. I like that the image has depth from the second on the far side of the building.
Thanks Judy.
Ok so it’s an old photo… busy month… but I like this one of a wild and windy day at this west coast beach. ISO 100, f14, 1/6 sec, 16mm. All this foam has been whipped up by wind and tide, almost looks like snow. I noticed the wind blowing bits of it around and thought it might look good – on a tripod with a slow shutter speed I’ve managed to capture some of the foam in flight which adds a certain something to this shot. The HSL sliders in Lightroom really make a difference, in colour it just doesn’t have the drama – looks a bit flat. Some photos just lend themselves to B&W.
Hi Alex. I cannot see the shot. Did you upload?
Whoops I posted the wrong photo, don’t know how to delete it. Hate that. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a34ae991f0abfa5b734b949815dfb828630fd5a5f4f9e3a9267d7f97db8654be.jpg Here is the one I meant to post.
Hi Alex. Interesting shot. You caught the action with the foam blowing up the beach all right. I like the dark tone against the white foam which adds to the drama as you say. Well done.
Thank you Denis, yes there’s a good light and dark balance with this one
Alex, I like the foam and changes in the waves.
Thanks Pamela. I’ve never seen foam like that before.
Very well done. The low angel along with the foam action makes this photo look spectacular.
Thank you very much Alan
An obviously very windy day. Like that you took this looking in the opposite direction than would be expected and like the low angle. Good contrast in the clouds.
Thank you Rachel, it was insanely windy!
Lovely shot at great low angle. You are braver than me – I would not dare getting low when the sea is breaking. Great work
Thanks Erez, I was safe enough there as it’s all just foam being driven by the wind, not water! The water was some meters away. Cheers
Very cool and unusual image Alex. Love that it looks like snow on a dark beach – like the contrast between white foam and black sand and using a slower shutter speed add that extra bit of mystery to your image. Nothing I would change in your image – well done. Brent
Great angle! What a different perspective. Love it!
Thanks Sara 🙂
I also like the low angle you used to capture this photo, Alex. The contrast between the foamy waves and beach is really nice.
Thanks Judy, I’m thinking of getting this one printed
I wanted to post this one before the course ends. We were at Old Bedford Village, PA. I had lots of fun trying the BW. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/62f2f0e336b0a3c849bc501cf4a0959e38d07e4fadad001a2019e71b1597037c.jpg
Interesting image, I think maybe remove the shadows a little would really help.
I will try.
Hi Pamela. This is a nice composition. If I may suggest the following: I think I would lighten the bottom half and darken the sky. It may give a more balanced view of the scene. Well done.
Thank you. I will give it a try.
I like the black reeds with the white sign. Great B/W photo.
Thank you, the reeds were what attracted me.
Glad you had fun – that’s what it’s all about. Good shot here, like that windmill on the horizon – that’s what attracts my eye. Not so sure about the reeds in the foreground, for me they add a little too much “busyness” to your image and I always say “simple is better”. One way is to move through the reeds and have the water reflecting the windmill and the old structure. Also try using a polarising filter on your camera to make the clouds pop more by removing the glare in the sky. Hope this helps. Brent
Pamela I agree with Brent on the reeds in front. Just a slight change in angle or perspective and it’s a whole new photo.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/197dfb114e9c7fa3bc4909360046cabf393723d62d6a1a171d8fb4cc05cf4927.jpg A nice interior shot on an FJ Holden (Same car as Passion Project) from a recent car show, Settings f/4 1/160 ISO 800 60mm, shot on a Canon 80D with a 24 – 105mm lens. I was much happier how this shot came out than I first expected.
Interesting shot Alan. Great detail.
Thanks Rachel
Hi Alan. Very nice detail and clarity in this shot. Well done.
Thanks Denis
Great shot for a great car.
Thanks Andrew, certainly does this car justice.
Oh yes . . . clean and classy. Great shot!
Thanks Derryl
A unique perspective of a car. I like the light reflections throughout the image.
Thanks Valerie
Really nice shot Alan. I just love the car shows. A photographer’s paradise, if you are excited about shooting cars like me!
Thanks Deby, yes I like you love shooting car shows, more so the old, classic and hit rods, I just love them.
This is a really clean, crisp shot! I have no idea how you do this, but I might have tried to either darken or blurr the background outside the windscreen a bit…. but really nicely composed and captured!!!
Thanks Sheree, couldn’t blur any more, as my lens is only an f/4, but produces some really good clean shots.
Great Classic. I like the shine on the interior. I also like all of the circles in the shot.
Thanks Jeff, it came out much better than expected. Although this was shot in color, I much prefer the Black & White conversion over the color one.
You should be happy – it looks great. Love all the highlights on the round surfaces – gives it a polished look. Also like the darker bottom and the way you’ve got with wide aperture for shallow depth of field with centre of steering wheel the focal point. My only suggestion would be to see the bottom of the steering wheel. Brent
Thanks Brent, yes I will keep an eye on the bottom of the steering wheel in future.
Excellent capture!
Great job! Great detail!
Love the sparkle in the polished surfaces of this treasured machine.
Here’s my last post for this challenge – “Woman Viewing Art” … shot in B&W today at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. I usually get annoyed when someone steps in front of my lens, but this was too good to pass up. I love the way the light is focused on the painting and the shoulders of the woman while she is viewing the painting. The painting is “The Wheel of Fortune” by Edward Burne-Jones [1871-1875] depicting Fortuna spinning the wheel with a slave, a king, and a poet. Leica Q, 28 mm lens, 1/60 sec, @ f/5.6, ISO 8000. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0ad771dbe1abadfad20136b2d84083defbd5e35cbbbed5f26bbe33f9095c2e4c.jpg
Rather than just showing art, this photo is showing art appreciation. Nicely done Richard.
Ohh, I love this. I am a sucker for images with people admiring art. I think it’s a niche genre that I myself am pursuing. Great image Richard!
Richard, very good composition. I love the interaction between the woman and the painting. Good lighting. Well done.
Awesome photo Richard. Talk about turning a lemon into lemonade.
Hi Richard. Good shot here. You can feel that woman taking it all in. Good use of light. Well done.
I love such images of people admire art and this is well done
Very nice image. I think the woman brings in a lot of emotion. Well done.
Indeed, your women viewing the artwork adds so much to this image. Nice.
This is a beautiful shot, Richard. I like how you emphasised the painting. She appears mesmorised! Great capture!
I had to look for the lady because my eyes were drawn immediately to the painting. Well done with this photo Richard.
Wow @disqus_VMEwMaCfC1:disqus this is one of your best captures to date. This image speaks volumes, well done. Love that light which takes my eye to the painting and then I see the woman. Her body language tells me so much – she is mesmerised by the painting. Brilliant!!! Brent
Brent, Thanks for your comments … and for creating this forum. I am learning a lot and having fun too. This challenge has really opened my eyes to the beauty of B&W photography.
Thanks to all for your comments. I truly appreciate the feedback.
Even though you can’t see her face, I get the feeling of intensity as she studies the painting. Also this is my favorite museum and i visit it often.
Beautiful job.
I think this is excellent, Richard. I like the story being told by the woman viewing the painting.
This one is from a night at the soccer, originally shot in colour but converted to B&W. The bright pink jersey is now not as obvious and reduces the distraction of your eye from the player and ball. Given it was a night game, light levels were lower, hence the need to use a higher ISO.
Settings: 1/1000 sec @ f/7.1, ISO-1600, lens MZ.75-300mm @300mm.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ba9c856b3ea52eff401b94b0237775ea82fd12fb5af5f7e6292ae3cdc9c96d18.jpg
Ridney, nice picture full of action. Good composition. Great result in B&W. Well done.
Thanks Christian
Good ‘stop action’ shot Rodney. Everything looks nicely detailed and sharp. Good composition, also.
Thanks Rachel
Hi Rodney. Very nice action shot.The ball is in good focus and the intensity of the goalkeeper come true. Well done.
Thanks Denis
Great shot perfect timing.
Thanks Andrew. I was also quite pleased with the timing and position of the ball in this one.
Great action shot Rodney, very well composed.
I think that you can make it even better by blurring the net a little and add some vignette by darkening a little top left and bottom right corners. Wonderful as is so.
Thanks Erez. Any further background blur would need to be made in LR. For out of camera blur the aperture on my lens doesn’t open up much more at that focal length and the nets are fairly close behind anyway.
Perfectly timed shot, Rodney! Nice composition, with the netting offering additional context to the story. You might try cropping off the diagonal metallic texture in the upper right.
Thanks Brenda. I lked the timing too! That object is the bottom of an electronic advertising screen and I did crop the main part of the screen out so there was nothing to read and be distracting. I didn’t want to crop much more because the action was already near that corner and I wanted to keep some space there.
Compared to the original it was a big improvement, but looking fresh at what was left I agree it might still be a little distracting. Might have another look at the original.
Yes, timing is everything in this shot. It’s like stopping time for that brief moment that you will never have the opportunity to photograph again. Nice job.
Thanks Deby
Good action shot, Rodney! Love the lines and your composition is excellent!
Thanks Sheree
Superb timing – fabulous!
Thanks Sig
Great action shot and nice clarity on the whole photo. The contrast of the ball works well with the net in the back. Well done.
Thanks Jeff
B/W lends itself to high ISO grainy shots anyway – so well done! Great action shot caught at a critical moment. Brent
Thanks Brent
Rodney, You captured this shot at the perfect moment … I assume that he caught the ball ! It’s interesting how the lighting seems to erase sections of the netting.
Thanks for you comment Richard and he did catch the ball. The nets were two coloured with yellow sections and blue sections, and it seems the blue sections have a similar tone to the grass behind. The relative tone between the blue and green (lighten or darken the tone of one of the colours) could be adjusted in Lightroom to make the net more visible.
This is one of the challenges, however can often be a benefit, of Black & White.
Well done. Great timed shot.
Very well timed, Rodney. B&W has done a nice job of isolating the goal keeper in action. I think I would be distracted by his pink jersey if this was a colour shot. Here, I see the concentration in his face.
B/W abstract. Light dappling on shallow water. F5.6, 50mm, 1/200 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a2b62b0ce0535ae813da3091a1c5ceee1d51729218b15535e590be914920cd33.jpg
Lynne, this is a great picture with a lot of light/shadow playing effect. Personally I would crop away that twig on the left away. Then you would have only the water, light lines and those little things (little stone, shell, …) on the bottom. Very nice texture. Well done.
ok Here it is – cropped differently. Perhaps not so distracting https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c42975acaa049e61d3375ae650df78710ab022aac58e094bfc5831058a576f8a.jpg
Lynne, I find this one more restful. Well done.
Hi Lynne. Lovely shot. Clever use of what is around you. Nice light, lines and tones in this shot. Well done.
Thanks Denis
Nice shot Lynne. I like how all of the lines are going in all different directions, and the lines are all white.
Prefer this one too
Love it Lynne, beautiful image, especially with this version. Well done
Thanks Erez
I prefer this version too – certainly fewer distractions. Love the way B&W brings out all the patterns. Great idea Lynne.
Thanks Tessa
Like this one better. Well done.
Hi Lynne – I like this crop, too. The light from the ripples on the bottom of the pool is magical.
These are fun shots, Lynne!
Very cool abstract look!
Thanks Chris
Lynne, great job! I am always trying for something like this, doesn’t always pan out for me. You have pulled it off very well.
Thank you Sara
Sinister in Saigon. I was completely unprepared for this sinister character coming around the corner in the torrential rains along the tiny, narrow, graffiti-filled back alleys of Saigon. My wife shouted, “Derryl, your camera!” I did not know what was coming. The wind nearly blew my umbrella inside out. My camera was soaked, I was soaked. I tucked my camera up as high as I could under the umbrella and shot. The shot is blurry, out of focus, and raw, but I love the sense of mysterious adventure this photo invokes. F3.2, 35mm, 1/25
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4e738740acc9ffde63f4082bde8b746fbbc3fe5ef77d3cfa677b6edde2983f11.jpg
Hi Derryl. By the sound of it you were a lucky man. I think it is a good shot. Captures a moment and a sense of mystery if not danger to whole scene.
Derryl, I like the rawness and urgency this image conveys. My eye goes directly to the hat in the foreground and then to the character with the umbrella. I wish we could see just a little more of the person in the foreground, but then that would probably mess with the vibe this image has.
I might have panicked and dropped the camera altogether!!! Intrigue, speed, and wet! Good capture, you are brave—and lucky!
I think the blurriness does add to the mystery of the photo. Well done for a spur of the moment shot. Too bad about your camera getting soaked.
Hi Brenda, here is a version lightening up the coat and face of sinister guy, and also a bit of the graffiti. I think is actually strengthens the contrast of the folds in his jacket add adds depth to the story. What do you think? Thanks for your suggestion!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bdb4602f49bee3cb47faa71696adc2e57b93d83bf467dd0325857ee4b6b51590.jpg
I think I like this edit better, Derryl. I think all the circumstances you described in your notes add up to a very good image that conveys the atmosphere of the moment.
Love the story behind your image @DerrylF:disqus and it add even more mystery in B/W. Brent
Thank you Brent. Your monthly challenges do inspire me to “keep clicking on” and looking at the world through new eyes. The comments of others also helps look critically and improve post-processing.
@brentmail:disqus I’d love to share a “semi black and white” version of this with you to get your opinion. Where might I share that with you?
Stunning image. All photos do not need to be focused to be great, as long as the subject is strong. Very well done!
Here is my last entry for this month’s challenge. This photo was shot in color and converted to black and white. I struggled in post processing as I felt the back horse might be a distraction. I don’t know photoshop at all so finally ended up just adding a heavy vingnetting around the edges. 1/250 sec, F6.3, 100 ISO at 70mm. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f6f6c0c7afc8e9cecfe69baf8c90926742d163e296b23438c35c583d585377e1.jpg
Love the shadows on the front horsed face. It kind of looks like you caught in the act. Well done.
Thanks Jeff.
Valerie, great composition. Good use of DoF. Well done.
Thanks for the feedback.
What a great portrait of the horse! Love it Valerie
Thank you Erez.
Hi Valerie. Very good Head Shot. I live the play of light across his face and right eye. Well done.
Thanks Denis. I appreciate the comments.
Great capture, i like the little bit of hay coming out of his mouth.
Thanks Chris.
Valerie, well done. I do not find the horse in the background distracting at all. It adds a bit of perspective.
Thanks Sara for your comments.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5b35e7f52c781e9b52ba93e8f7656ff62d3bd51290296c5bf7e17e0939c8927b.jpg
This was an extremely trying month and black and white photography is new to me. Well, as young child when I first started taking photos, my mom only allowed me to use black and white film. So since then, I have had little interest in black and white photos! I see how wrong that is! The following is a picture of a sunset taken on Fort Myers Beach. I need to starting looking at my photos through a new eye for black and white!
ISO 1250, SS 1/1000 and f 5.6
Great landscape Kathy! It reads a bit too dark. Especially the bottom right hand corner. How would it look if you brought up your highlights and shadows? I think you really have a beautiful image to work with.
Thank you for the suggestions! I will go back and look at it with those changes. I am still learning light room so every photo is an experiment.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2a3c17bf6b713982c524bbc70297d384393b54b612c53b5189f59ddf99537332.jpg
I brightened up the lower right corner and apparently added a water mark!
Great photo Kathy. I like the lines of the poles sticking out of the water leading to the land on the other side, and the sun setting in the background. Very nice.
Glad you’ve pushed yourself this month @disqus_0q5gtMkZhk:disqus – and opened your mind to a new genre of photography. This is a stunning image, it’s got that classic, timeless feel to it. Keep shooting and pushing yourself. Brent
I had a major health scare in July and have not been able to take photos as I have in the past! I think I am doing much better so I look forward to getting back out and taking photos. There is nothing more humbling that realizing how quickly your life can change, I have always been very healthy!
Hope you are feeling better, you’re very talented.
I am feeling much better! Thank you for your compliment. I need to work on my confidence.
Kathy, great picture. The leading line with those poles in the water to the light is very nice. Beautiful structure and texture in the sky. Well done.
Beautiful image Kathy. Love your composition and dramatic sky. Great work
Hi Kathy. Another good shot. I like the leading line of poles taking me to the far off distance and that golden light. Well captured and nice composition. Well done.
Love this! Great capture.
Kathy beautiful shot
Beautiful image Kathy, very serene.
great photo, fantastic tones
not sure which I prefer, the original or the lighter version.
… maybe it’s the sky in the original and the foreground in the lighter, hmm
anyway nice composition with the pier timbers(?) leading the eye into the horizon
my only criticism would be that the horizon is a bit crooked.
and sorry to hear that you’ve been unwell, really hope you are on the mend.
Love the leading lines in this, the clouds and the timber. Great detail and composition. Beautifully shot, Kathy.
Lovely atmospheric image Kathy. Hope next month’s better for you!
Kathy, beautiful shot! I like the challenges, as they help us grow-or that is the goal. Such a wonderfully moody shot.
Really nice image Kathy! Great composition, great sky! The pilings make great leading lines to the sun in the background. I like the lighter version better. Well done.
Kathy, this is so beautiful. Not sure which version I like better. The image is so nicely balanced with interesting elements in the foreground, horizon and sky. You have a great eye for composition. Big pat on the back. You did a great job here.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/65bdffafe7d065cedafbae3486af13ac8d023737bb1b6c13bf0d01b4bd9fe7cf.jpg
Here is a photo of Florida apple snail shells. They are about 2-3 inches in diameter. Many of these snails are invasive species and are kept under control by native birds that eat both the native and non-native apple snails.
1/20 ss; f 5.6; ISO 400 at 58 mm.
I love the shapes and forms. But then I am always collecting shells.
I love images of like things! I think the B&W really brings out the “sliminess” of these guys! Great composition!
I do love shelling or really anything to do with the beach. And my eyes have been opened to viewing a photo in black and white. It really does add dimension.
Nice use of lines within the shells. Nice focus on the foreground shells.
Really nicely composed Kathy. I love the swirls and different tones in the shells. I also rally like your DoF—great to have the centre in focus and clear and the others blurred.
Kathy, nice picture. Good composition with a nice DoF.
Hi Kathy. What makes this shot for me is the Death of Field. You get to see all the tones and textures in the whole shot. Well done.
Hmm, I really like this, the tones, the repetitive shapes of the snail shells and the classic fibonacci curve/spiral.
Order and disorder in the same photo
great
Kathy great job. Nice detail and DOF. I would maybe crop a bit tighter so all you have are the snails, without the blank space above. Great lighting.
Kathy, cool shot!
Nice composition Kathy. The detail in the shells is so nicely highlighted by the softer B&W treatment you have used in this image.
I don’t want this challenge to be over! 🙂
I shot this during the “magic light” this evening. Thought I would try to experiment with all the different tones in the photo. Lovely evening for photos!
D750 ISO250 F5.0 1/80 sec. 24mm
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/337a0b1e2689500b0908a9f32ea0cea22b0eeaabe0413eb7f50ffdcdcf38ff76.jpg
Great shot. I like how the water is so still and how there isn’t any movement at all. Very nice clarity throughout.
Aw, thanks, Jeff!
Yeah I don’t want it to end too – just love all the B/W images from everyone! Great shot here @disqus_fGWrfrmXu3:disqus like the framing palm tree and wharf on the left, the foreground boat and then the homestead reflected in the background. Plus the moon is super cool too. The only suggestion would be to get up a little higher – adding more of that mirror water above the boat which will seperate it from the reflections in the background. Brent
Thanks….again, never would have thought of that. Time to have a ladder handy! 🙂
Hi Sheree. Very nice peaceful shot. I like the detail you achieved and the stillness of the water with the far off reflections. Well done.
Thanks, Denis.
Beautiful shot. Love all the different tones and textures.
Thanks, Sara.
Sheree, really nice image. Great composition and subject matter. You might want to level the shore line in the background. It appears to be running downhill to the left. Also, maybe lighten the image up just a bit.
Thanks, Jim. Will play with levelling a bit. Re lightening it, for some reason it came out darker her than on my screen—-but will have another look!
Lovely reflections on far shore. The whole image is very peaceful.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4517c208d16fdefe2fc20a164ae6bbae84dc4bcc0d486fa91d6ac780e7bc0e81.jpg
This is my 3rd and final submission this month.
Candid of a Mysterious Stranger at the Renaissance Faire in California, USA.
I don’t know how to pose people for photographs but love sneaking in candids of people when I can. I felt B/W was better for this candid to give a sense of the era this Faire was intended.
Shot back in 2008 with my first digital camera, a Canon Rebel along with the kit lens it came with. I believe I shot this in Jpeg as I didn’t know what RAW was back then.
ISO: 100, F. 5.6, Shutter 1/60th, on camera flash used. The resolution is pretty low as I didn’t know how to properly export. Still learning that stuff. Also I didn’t save any original files back then which was also a big mistake I have learned along the way. So much to learn but so much fun.
Hi Deby, I love the intense look on his face and the mesmerizing eyes. It make me pause to wonder what he is thinking about. Well done.
He has that movie star quality! Almost John Travolta-esque. Great shot! I do agree that B&W does give it a time era long past. Well done!
Yes, the handsome stranger! Wish I would have asked for his address to send him a photo. Thank you Amber.
Thank you Peter.
Nice shot Deby. B&W really works well for this.
Thank you Sheree.
Deby, as if it was taken in a film studio. Good B&W picture. Is this the original picture without post-processing? It has a shallow dept for f/5.6.
Hi Christian,
Actually this photo is 10 years old. I was only using Google’s Picasa editing program back then. I remember clicking on many different sliders (options for editing?). One was to bring the saturation way down with just a hint of color. The other one of was a type of blur or softening around the edges which is how I created this effect. I’m glad you brought that point up as I had forgotten about using Picasa editing since I haven’t used it for several years now. Thank you for your comment, Christian.
Nice shot Deby and a great expression. The B&W works well too. It is a great capture.
I find the white circle (button or something on the bag behind him) distracting. I would remove it or at least darken it in post. It is just a little thing so
Hi Erez,
I totally agree with you on the white circle behind him. I use Apple Photos program for most of my editing (soon to learn LR) and attempted to darken this spot before I posted it. I didn’t have any luck doing this as it looked super fake so I just left it alone.
I appreciate all of the tips from the experts here as I am certainly learning a great deal with my first Photo bootcamp challenge. It’s a quick way to improve our photography with the help of other eyes as we tend to overlook details on many of our own photos. Thank you.
Hi Derby. Very good portrait and good facial expression especially across the eyes. The only downside is the bag behind the left shoulder. I might crop up to the neck and in close to the brim of the hat from the left. Well done.
Hi Denis,
Thank you for the tip. This man was actually selling the leather bags that were just behind him (to our left) so I wanted to leave those in as I thought it added to his story as a vendor. I totally understand why leaving the bags out would have made a better portrait, though. It makes sense as it would have been less distraction in this portrait.
Nice portrait Deby. Did you use any fill light or was it regular sunlight?
Hi Juan,
I used my old Canon Digital Rebel with the small flash that is attached to the camera. Thank you Juan.
This really works well in black and white. Great detail and good light on the subject.
Thank you Valerie.
Deby, Great portrait shot. I also like candid shots because most people don’t know how to pose without looking silly, dumb or angry ! You nailed the eye focus and the lighting is perfect.
Thank you Richard. I am one of those photographers who does not know how to direct people to pose, I guess that is why I prefer shooting candids as there is no stress and no directing at all. The funny thing is I would love to take portraits of people to make a few bucks but it terrifies me to do this. Perhaps someday… Thanks Richard.
Great portrait and handsome guy. Love the intense stare.
Well done.
Nice image Deby. I would look at cropping down much tighter on his head and that way you could eliminate some of the business in the background over his right shoulder. The stuff in the left hand side of the image does not add to the image.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b90a9d4932458cb38651ec3e18e94d81c85b8cf85711d36c6af94037547595bb.jpg
I like so many others don’t want this challenge to end! This image is taken on my Husband’s grandparent’s farm in Finley, Australia. It is a beautiful station called Coree where the Billabong creek cuts through and you are guaranteed to spot many a Kangaroo. It also happens to be one of my Husband’s favorite places on this planet.
Shot on a Nikon Coolpix P900
24mm, F5, 1/125 sec, ISO 100
I love your composition and the B&W on this shot Amber. Nice composition and lovely tones and textures.
Amber, this is a great B&W picture. The symetry is here on his place. The obviuos leading line (path) is taking us in the background. Well done.
Love the symmetry and depth. Well done Amber
Amber this is a great shot. I almost feel that I could go for a walk across that old bridge into the field beyond.
Hi Amber. A lovely shot. You got a good Depth of Field for F5 which in my view adds to the composition. The light and tones are well balanced throughout the shot. Well done.
Inviting scene and the contrast between the light bridge and surrounding foliage draws you into the photo. Nicely done.
Peaceful shot. Well done.
Thank You Sara!
Great photo Amber. I really like the road in the middle of the photo, and I like how the trees frame the whole road and lead my eyes into the background. Nice use of black and white. Well done.
Thank You Jeff! It was a spot just asking to be photographed!
Really nice amber. I love the leading lines of the bridge and the arching lines of the trees which serve to draw you into the image. Well done.
Thank You Jim!
I also like the symmetry with the bridge in the middle and big trees on the sides. The brighter colour of the bridge with its peeling paint makes it the star of this image, in my opinion.
Thank You Judy! It is such a lovely spot!
Hi Brenda, here is a version lightening up the coat and face of sinister guy, and also a bit of the graffiti. I think is actually strengthens the contrast of the folds in his jacket add adds depth to the story. What do you think? Thanks for your suggestion!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/16e7b641cf85c0d556b09c6d8c0cd37f8c92d1abeb694576ba0d42a7f8e20905.jpg
Dahlia beginning to bloom. This flower is now fully open and is bigger than my head..feels like it’s taken over my deck, but I love it. When I took this photo I was fascinated by the structure of the petals waiting to unfurl. My goal was to use B&W to highlight the depth and shape of the petals.Taken with macro lens, hand held. 1/100 sec, f8, ISO 250.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/836a333d5b1fb3c7ebe1dfa7f53f4dae7d4430e34cb214676538dfc45b81028c.jpg
Judy, I love this picture. Great B&W with much detail on the petals with your macro. I can’t see the size of the dahlia, but I see a lot of structural elements of the flower. Beautiful light and shadow. Well done.
Thank you, Christian. I really pushed the shadows to get that depth and contrast. It is more processing than I usually do. This challenge helped push me out my usual processing workflow.
just glorious! love it! 🙂
Thank you Christine.
Gorgeous image. Very well composed and planned. Love it
Thank so much, Erez. I tried about 10 different crops until settling on this one. It was fun playing with the balance in B&W to get the range of tones in the final image.
It is obvious that a lot of thinking was invested here and I guess a lot of post-process time too. The result worth it all
Hi Judy. Great shot.I like the detail and clarity you got along with the tones and texture. Well done.
Thank you, Denis. It is amazing how adjusting the levels of various tones and inputs can impact the final image. It was fun tweaking all the sliders until I was happy with depth and contrast in the posted image.
Judy, you have definitely achieved your goal with this image. I love the tight framing, and the darks and lights. Also beautifully sharp.
Thanks so much, Kerrie. Regarding the tight framing… I don’t know about you, but I have a terrible time deciding on how to crop images. I tried out about a dozen different crops on this image. This was the version my eye kept coming back to.
Really good capture, Judy! I love the light and also the veins on the petals.
Thank you, Sheree. There was an amazing amount of detail in the petals that I didn’t see until I uploaded it to my computer.
Beautiful. Great contrast in the light and shadows.
Thanks Valerie!
This is beautiful . I think black and white works beautifully with floral photography. The lines in this flower just pop out.
Thank you Kathy!
Great texture, shades and details. This is a masterpiece. Great job!
Thanks so much for your comments Barbara.
Judy, the outer ring of petals are trumpeting the arrival of the birth of the budding flower about to bloom. I keep staring at it waiting…… Fantastic !!!
Thanks Peter. I also like the structure of those outer petals starting to unfurl.
Love this Judy, great texture and shades. You take such great macro shots.
Thanks for your kind words, Chris. I do like macro photography. This bloom was a brilliant subject. So much drama. It is the first ‘dinner plate dahlia’ that I have grown that was truly the size of a dinner plate.
Stunning!
Thanks so much, Sara.
This shot works really well in B/W. I like the layers of the flower and the contrasting colors.
Thank you, Jeff 🙂
Really nice image Judy! I think you have a wall hanger here! Love the contrast & detail.
Thanks Jim. I really exaggerated the contrast to make the shadows deeper. I usually don’t mess with that stuff too much.
My last B & W is of a dandelion at the point where the wind is starting to blow the seeds. I like the transition of life stage between the flower and seeds evident in this shot. Taken with an old point and shoot Olympus, 1/400, f 3.5, ISO 64.https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e847714728cf78c70a27fbffeb31d1c359d4021ca2b2d0d060cb41f305222001.jpg
Hi Janet. Very nice shot. Great detail and clarity. The tones and light are soft and transparent. Well done.
Janet, nice picture. Nice B&W with a lot of detail.
NIce shot, Janet. Looks like the dandelion is exploding! I like the movement and the fine hairs…crisp
I like this. Shows motion and details. Very good.
Love this photo. Great clarity and detail in the haris of the flower. Nice work!
Beautiful shot Janet.
Lovely image!
A wonderful dynamic image. Love it Janet, very well done
Well done. Great detail and tone.
Janet, you have great clarity in your photo. I like how I can see each strand of the dandelion, and like you said, see the seeds starting to blow away.
Very cool photo. Love the natural lines.
Hi everyone. Hope you are all well. I shot this photo with a Sony (Point and Shoot camera). https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cddeec30118879653b8103623edc0969c43f045c67eccc18a9cc444fc6f89407.png
Great job here. I get the sense of being in the rain myself. This has great leading lines, texture and composition. Great capture.
Nice shot of a gloomy, rainy day. Good composition and tone. Well done Hung Lam.
Very nice shot! It feels cold and damp just looking at this.
Nice image, good composition and mood. Well done
Well done. I like the tones and detail.
Hi Hung. Very nice photo. I like the clarity throughout your photo and how it tells a story of kind of nasty weather. Well done.
Very nice street scape telling the story of a rainy day.
Fly on a mushroom.
My final image for this challenge is this fly on a mushroom. Through this B&W challenge I think I am looking at ordinary things in different ways. This particular photo was quite ordinary in its as taken form but when converted to B&W and cropped right in, the textures and form of the mushroom is really quite incredible. I know there is much not right about this image but at the same time I quite like the effect.
55-300 lens at 300mm. 1/180sec, f13, ISO 2500.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/479a51006b1fcf345bf015899cc78a8530750453d18ccfb3e7e2a1d9d19bbc48.jpgr
Andrew… no image appears, for me at least!
Can’t see image Andrew
Hi Andrew. No Image.
Sorry about the missing image. Some how ended up with a stray letter on the end of the file link.
Hi Andrew. Nice shot. I like the clarity and detail in particular the fly. Nice texture and tone to it and balanced throughout. Well done.
Great use of lines to bring the viewers attention to the fly. Nice texture and detail as well. Great job!
This is very cool! Never would have known that was a mushroom. Nice lines and good B&W!
Never knew this is what a mushroom looks like close up…an interesting shot!
Not a fan of mushrooms but this is a great shot. Love that the fly is off to the side and the textures. Well done!
Great shot, haven’t recognized it as a mushroom. Interesting and well done
An interesting image Andrew – great detail on the fly!
Andrew, well done. I might have cropped it a bit moron the bottom, but great detail with the “ruffles” of the mushroom and the fly.
Andrew, I love the detail in your photo not only with the mushroom but with the fly as well. I think you did really well on capturing this with the clarity that you got and the contrasting colors.
Last one for this B&W challenge. Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in the rain at dawn, a late 19th-century Neo-Gothic style Roman Catholic church completed in 1886, amidst a gourmet of sights and sounds around the rustic old city of Hanoi, Vietnam. What strikes me here is the 130 gap of time with the stunning architecture of the French Gothic Revival juxtaposed against the vicar’s modern Honda SUV parked out front. Tripod, 0.6 sec, f16, ISO 100 250.https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bb7f3a564c7e1e0844ce8cf3466b62fd02dbbe7b91cb8ba66450602acbe4fb39.jpg
Hi Darryl. Great subject for B/W. It is nicely composed and taken. I wonder if you lightened it bit would the architecture stand out better.?
How is this Denis and Barb? Lightened up with a bit of vinetting
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/701426bac808cf999c18f4c4a05595c6e55768c2e681a692c426355da3fdf0d2.jpg
This is much better version Derryl. Nice perspective.
This is a much better version Derryl
Darryl, Not sure which image I like better, the lighter one or darker one. Very cool concept, old including the new. The image has a bit too much contrast for me, but that is just me. Great job.
Sara, what do you mean by too much contrast? The contrast between old and new or light and dark or . . .?
I like the bottom one better, it tells more of the story. I like the tree lines street with the striking building in the background. That tree branch on the right brings my eyes to the top of the building, Well done.
I like them both.
Hi, Nice composition and lines. I agree with Denis about lightening it up a little. Also not sure if you could have changed your position to try and get the branch out of the way. Otherwise this is a nice photo. Good job!
Thanks Barbara. Actually I set up the tripod specifically to include the branch! Haha! Something about the eeriness of a dead tree that was intriguing. Maybe if I had more of the tree the branch would be better in context.
A cool perspective! Nice lines, branch is a bit distracting so may have moved from it a bit, or gone in front of it.
Derryl. I really like this composition. I like the contrast of Gothic and modern. I also like that you were able to capture the old brank in front of the Cathedral and there are several live trees around as well. Is there a way to use “lens correct” on your computer? It will help with some of the distortion. Lightroom has it.
Really nice Derryl! I personally like the non-vertical lines caused by the extremely wide angle lens. It creates an interesting image I think. However, others may not. If you have Lightroom, under the lens correction tab you can actually very easily straighten things up if you wish. I would experiment with it and see what you think. The down side is you will have to crop in a little tighter if you straighten and that might affect your composition more that you want.
Hi All, Old windmill and cottage Ireland
ISO200, fl25mm, f10, 1/125sec
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8c8c27059494c811ef4dc380bfbc6f4110b38973d83f1bafbcb3d91125bee39e.jpg
Hi. I like the stormy grey look of the photo. Nice lines and texture. The only thing I would try to do is give the windmill a little more room and maybe up the shadows a bit more. Great job
John, I love the soft ones in this and the clouds. I agree with Barbara that you could use a bit more space on the left, but nicely done!!!
John, I love this picture. Personally I would have framed a bit more to the left: less bush and more space to the left of that mill. Also a bit more space above to have all of the sails in view. Good composition. Well done.
Hi John. Well taken shot. Good tones and texture. That said I would agree with Christian and Sheree. Well done. Where was this taken?
Nice job John. I still see some green in the trees and bushes. I agree with Christian on his comments as well.
Beautiful shot – good angle and DOF.
I agree with Christian, I think that more space above the wing will improve the image.
John great DOF. I like the angle, but could you have moved over a bit more to the right and lost the wall? Very good use of the clouds. I would like to see a bit of sky over the top blade of the windmill. Personal preference, again. Well done.
Great windmill and old looking building. I like the road that leads my eyes straight to windmill. Well done.
Love all the texture and detail in this, John. The clouds really add to this image.
Really nice John. Great subject matter. I did not know there were windmills in Ireland. Nice contrast, tones & textures.
This will be the last one for this challenge. I took this last week, when the moon was just a sliver. I adjusted some of the distracting lights down a bit as the focus really was the moon and mars.
D750 ISO 400 70mm f9.0 for 20 seconds…. There is some movement in the moon and mars, but think that ads a bit of emphasis… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1211a14d2196495a02a8b9ee2203bcb1850fdf4f18ecd0fa6ed018603e3d9160.jpg
Beautiful night silhouette shot that bring out the moon and mars. Good one Sheree.
Many thanks!
Hi Sheree. Very nice night silhouette. I think yo have achieved your goal here. Well done.
Thanks, Denis
Sheree great silhouette.
The moon through the palm tree is really cool looking. Nice photo.
Thanks!
Love the balance between the silhouettes and the sky, Sheree. A faster shutter speed may help with the movement of moon and stars. Nice work!
Lines, lines, light and shadow – structural details of the Eiffel Tower. Sony Alpha 7ii with 24-240 mm lens at 160 mm, f11, 1/80 and ISO 200 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bce9f9c3dbc8b6b0e08395ce7d46bef5f2fa83ba1582c26caf6fbacdfdc9153f.jpg
I love this! Great image, great lines.
Sig, a lot of repeating elements. Very nice view on a well known monument. Great shadows. Well done.
Thank you Christian!
Hi Sig. Nice capture. Despite the repetitive lines and angles I thing you manage to hold the viewers interest. Well done.
Thank you Denis!
Sig
well done. It is always nice to capture a well known monument and find different view
Great image and I love how you managed to create something unique from a very known monument.
Thank you very much Erez! Yes, since everyone that has been to Paris has a picture of the complete Eiffel tower, I wanted to capture a different and unique image of the tower. Admittedly, it was a bit of an experiment, but it’s fun to push the envelope in a new direction!
Very nice shot, Sig. The curved lines and intricacy in the metal work make this interesting to view. I guessed it was the Eiffel tower then had to go back to read what it was! 🙂
Thanks Sheree – I appreciate this and your other comments on my BW images!
Beautiful, slightly abstract shot! I like the angle. Well done.
Thank you Sara!
WOW, Great lines. Great clarity Sig, love the detail in the Eiffel Tower. Nice job.
Thanks Jeff – much appreciated!
Such a creative view with brilliant detail. Well done.
Really nice architectural detail B & W shot! This is a great example I learned from a fellow photographer. Most people would never think to zoom in like this on the details of the Eiffel tower. He says every time he takes a wide shot, he zooms in and also takes a tight shot. I am now trying to do that every time I shoot, if I can remember to do it. Well done.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/09befe4e637f20341b83690171a0561c4374294dcb6c7c7dbab2bcf60b54354b.jpg
I took this picture on my way to the Statue of Liberty. Canon 80D – ISO 100; 35mm; f/5.6 1/1000
Beautiful shot.
Thanks Chris
Great citiscape capture Juan. Nice cloud formation. Well done.
Thanks Romy
Hi Juan. Good Cityscape. Lovely sky. I like the way you have captured the play of light on the buildings. Well done.
Thank you so much Denis
Beautiful cityscape.
Thanks Erez
Great shot Juan, with lovely detail. I especially like the way that the shape of the clouds seems to follow the shape of the buildings.
Thanks Tessa. I actually took 8 pictures as the boat was moving and kept this one
I like the cityscape, Juan. Nicely balanced.